A HERO dad dived into the sea to rescue a drowning mother and daughter after he saw bodies facedown in the waves.
Craig Bowe battled fierce tides to pull Shelina Rahman, 41, her daughter Samia, 15, and two others from the water, while also helping a seven-year-old boy.
Craig Bowe dived into the sea in an attempt to save the mother and daughter Credit: BBC
Samia Rahman and her mother Shelina both lost their lives on Wednesday Credit: Facebook / East Anglia News Service
The mum and daughter were given CPR on the beach but the pair died at the scene after they heroically tried to save the boy – thought to a relative – themselves.
Emergency services rushed to the beach at just after 5.35pm following reports that adults and children had gotten into trouble in the water.
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The boy, who had become stranded on a sandbank, was airlifted to hospital and remains in a critical condition while three others were taken by ambulance.
Craig was on a day trip for his daughter’s 10th birthday to West Mersea, near Colchester in Essex on Wednesday.
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Shally Rahman, 41, died after her she tried to save a seven-year-old boy Credit: UGC/UNPIXS
Emergency services were called to the beach just after 5.35pm Credit: Andrew Styczynski
Samia was pulled from the sea by Craig while his wife called the emergency services Credit: UGC/UNPIXS
Flowers at West Mersea beach after the tragedy Credit: Andrew Styczynski
The kitchen fitter leapt into action after hearing a man call for help and seeing people unconscious in the choppy sea.
He told the BBC: “I noticed that no one else was going into the water, I am an okay swimmer, and the people needed help.”
Craig dived into the cold water and pulled Shelina from the waves before running back to rescue her daughter.
His bravery didn’t stop there and Craig returned to the sea a third time to rescue another young woman.
Finally he swam out 150 yards with life jackets and a life ring to help get the seven year-old boy onto a lifeboat, and bring another teenage boy to shore.
The boy got into difficulty after he was stranded on a sandbank and cut off from the shore, it is understood.
“I helped sort of shoo him onto the boat, because he was face down too… but the seven-year-old was not in a good way” Craig said.
He added that he was being bashed by waves as the current got stronger.
Mishba Uddin a friend of the family that lost loved ones Credit: Andrew Styczynski
Meanwhile, his wife Carly, had called 999, and was trying to resuscitate the mum and daughter.
She humbly said: “Everybody on that beach that day played their part in giving that family the best chance they could to survive.
“Everyone really stepped up and it was incredible to see.”
Craig and Carly told The Times they had been tidying up after celebrating with their four children when they heard screaming.
The couple then saw a man, now known to be politician Dr Mansur Rahman, calling for help as his family were stranded and struggling in the water.
Craig said he went into “autopilot” while Carly remained on the beach comforting the family members not in the water.
Their daughters Ava and Madison ran to find life jackets and rings while Craig battled increasingly dangerous conditions.
Carly said: “We don’t feel like we are heroes, we just did what was needed as the family were out for fun for the day just like us, and got caught in difficulty.
Craig the rest of his family sprang into action to help the people in the water Credit: Andrew Styczynski
Essex police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward Credit: Andrew Styczynski
“It was a surreal experience, one I don’t want to have again. It still hasn’t sunk in as to what happened that evening.
“So many questions that we have as to how and why it happened but all our thoughts are for the family and the seven-year-old boy fighting for his life.”
The grieving dad was part of the Bangladeshi Nationalist Party’s UK wing and a leader of the Jubo Dal movement in Britain.
Dr Rahman told how his daughter had visited him earlier in the day before heading to the beach with family.
According to a relative, around ten members of the family were playing near the sea when a “big wave came in.”
Selina and her daughter Samia, who tried to rescue the struggling 7-year-old, were reportedly poor swimmers.
Hundreds have flocked to Brick Lane Jamme Masjid Mosque in East London to pay their tributes in the wake of the tragedy.
Essex Police have urged anyone with information to come forward by calling 101 and quoting incident 1090.
