Pictured: Bangladeshi politician's wife who drowned at Essex beach

A British-Bangledeshi woman who drowned at a beach in Essex alongside her 15-year-old daughter while they tried to save a young child has been pictured for the first time. 

Emergency services were called to the incident at West Mersea beach, near Colchester, at around 5.30pm yesterday following reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water amid high tides at Sea View Holiday Park.

Shelina Rahman, a teacher in her 40s, and her 15-year-old daughter Sameeha sadly both died after rushing into the water to try and help the youngster while on a family summer holiday trip. 

A seven-year-old child is also fighting for their life in hospital, relatives have said. 

Mrs Rahman was the wife of politician Dr Mansur Rahman, leader of Jubo Dal UK - the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

One beach hut owner told how the 'horrific' scenario unfolded as the woman was 'trying to save [her] family', adding: 'Apparently she did all she could and ended up dying.'

A third person has been hospitalised and is in a serious condition, while two others also remain in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

East of England Ambulance Service said one person was airlifted to hospital while a further three were taken by road.

West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team said it had 'responded to a tragic incident' yesterday and that its thoughts were 'with the family involved'.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham thanked emergency services during a visit to Harlow, Essex today, describing last night's events as 'very, very sad'. 

It is understood the family was enjoying a summer holiday trip out when the tragedy unfolded - as they sat near the shoreline during an incoming high tide at West Mersea Beach, a six-year-old child was swept away by the currents.

Both the Mrs Rahman and Sameeha attempted to rescue the child, only to get into difficulty themselves. 

Mrs Rahman is the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, former vice president of the UK BNP, originally from Chhatak Upazila in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

In a social media tribute, a family friend said: 'With deep sorrow and a heavy heart, we inform you that the wife of the Joint Secretary of the UK Youth Wing, beloved Dr. Sheikh [Monsur Rahman], and his 15-year-old daughter [...] drowned in the sea yesterday. The deceased has been confirmed by the police.

'We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray for the forgiveness of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the injured.'

In a condolence message the BNP Secretary General said: 'There are no words adequate enough to express sympathy to the bereaved families in the face of such a tragic loss. 

'I pray that Almighty Allah grants the departed souls Jannatul Ferdous and gives their grieving family members the strength and patience to endure this immense sorrow.'

The beach hut owner told the Daily Mail: 'We heard the helicopter last night and the search and rescue operation.

'We saw all the emergency services. We have a beach hut and live locally as well.

'I have heard the poor woman was trying to save the family and then has died. It's horrific. It sounds like a worst nightmare. Apparently she did all she could and ended up dying.'

At least six ambulances, a dozen police cars, a fire engine, a lifeboat, two air ambulances and a coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene yesterday.

One coastguard truck remained on the shingle beach into the night near an area which was cordoned off with a wind break. 

Other emergency vehicles were parked behind a row of multi-coloured pastel beach huts beside the West Mersea Holiday Park. 

The area is known for its strong currents that can take swimmers and tourists by surprise. 

Essex Police Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said: 'Today, our thoughts remain with the family members who are coming to terms with their loss.

'We are grateful to the people who have already spoken to us and helped with our enquiries. 

'We would ask anyone who was at the beach at the time, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please get in touch, to help us understand what happened.'

A spokesperson for East of England Ambulance Service said: 'Following reports of multiple people in distress in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea yesterday evening, we dispatched multiple resources including our Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances to the scene.

'Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated. One patient was transported by air to hospital, and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital.'

On Thursday, police officers have been seen walking along the beach near the incident, speaking with members of the public.

Beach hut owner Beverly Smit, 60, of West Mersea in Essex, said she heard the emergency response and went to see what was going on.

'By that time they were re-sussing the person on the beach, the helicopters were still in the fields,' said Ms Smit, who works for a local dentist.

She said that she spoke to a day tripper who had rented a neighbouring beach hut and had tried to help.

'He saw and they were calling for help and the children and adults were out there,' she said. He swam out I think three times.

'Two of the children he brought back were not in good condition.

'It's not an easy swim when the tide's coming in, you're swimming against the tide, the water yesterday was particularly quite cold.'

The beach hut owner added that she and members of her rowing club have helped save people in the sea previously.

Ms Smit described the incident as a 'massive scale of rescue and tragedy really'.

One holidaymaker said: 'We heard that the incident involved an Asian family. Children got into difficulty and adults went in the water after them, only to get into difficulty as well. 

'Other people on the beach went into the water to try and help, but it looks like there were fatalities.' 

Two air ambulances landed on the green beside the caravan park's Sandbanks bar and restaurant while the coastguard helicopter is reported to have landed on the beach. 

Witnesses last night reported seeing at least one casualty being loaded into an air ambulance, while others said they had heard reports of 'multiple people in the water'. 

A caravan owner said: 'The first we knew something was wrong was when we heard a helicopter overhead. 

'I spoke to someone who saw the emergency services working on someone and pumping their chest on the beach. 

'People were shouting, 'Come on you can do it.' They couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman.'

A woman said the incident at West Mersea happened at high tide. She said: 'The tide was a lot further in than it is now and that sandbank, they were on there and the tide came in.

'It comes in very quickly and you have to be careful.' 

Speaking while sitting at a beach hut, the woman said there was 'quite a commotion' and 'just total panic'.

Discussing the aftermath of the incident, she said there was a 'helicopter coming in, the helicopter circling and sirens going everywhere'.

The eyewitness added: 'That was quite alarming, for a small place like this, I think that's why so many people are shocked.

'I mean the beach was packed with people, they were coming down to see what was going on.'

The woman said the emergency services 'worked diligently' and described the incident as 'absolutely tragic'.

A worker at a nearby diner, who did not give her name, said some of their teenage staff had tried to help.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, said on social media: 'I am sad and shocked to hear of the serious incident off the beach in West Mersea.

'We cannot speculate about what happened, but the response has been fantastic. I thank @HMCoastguard who will have been first on scene and all the emergency services. We await further news and extend sympathy to all those affected.'