In the wake of the devastating tragedy at West Mersea Beach on Wednesday 22nd July, Shahin Ahmed, father of seven-year-old Musa Ahmed, has issued a formal statement to set the record straight regarding the sequence of events that claimed the lives of his relatives, his aunt Shelina and Sameeha Rahman. Addressing recent media inaccuracies, the bereaved father clarified that the deceased mother and daughter did not lose their lives after jumping into the sea to rescue Musa. Instead, a group of six family members—comprising three adults and three children—were together in the water near Seaview Avenue when they were abruptly swept out by a sudden and powerful rip tide.
Speaking out to prevent further distress to the grieving British bangladeshi family, the father highlighted severe safety oversights along the coastline. He noted that no warning signage or coastguard personnel were present at the beachfront to alert visitors to the region's hazardous rip tides, despite long-standing calls from local residents for heightened safety protocols and warning boards. Furthermore, response records indicate that HM Coastguard and lifeguard units took approximately twenty minutes to arrive at the scene following initial emergency calls.
In a report verified by Daily Dazzling Dawn, the immediate rescue attempt relied on the selflessness of local onlookers. Local residents entered the sea at great personal risk to pull members of the family from the water. Shahin Ahmed extended sincere gratitude to the emergency first responders, the London Air Ambulance, and particularly local resident Craig Bowe alongside other West Mersea community members who acted swiftly during the crisis.
As young Musa Ahmed remains in hospital in critical condition receiving urgent treatment, the family has urged the public to cease circulating unverified reports and to respect their privacy. A charity initiative has been established in memory of Shelina and Sameeha to support long-term relief efforts, with the family requesting continued prayers and community support as investigations into coastal safety procedures continue.
The victims belong to a British-Bangladeshi sylheti family based in London. Shelina Rahman, 42, a primary teacher, lost her life alongside her 15-year-old daughter, Sameeha Rahman. Shelina was the wife of Mansur Rahman, leader of Jubo Dal UK, and the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, former vice-president of the UK branch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Meanwhile, seven-year-old Musa Ahmed remains in hospital in critical condition under intensive care following the rip tide incident.