THE DAD of the daughter and wife who died after being swept out to sea has thanked the hero beachgoers from “the bottom of his heart” as they tried to save them.
Selina Rahman, 41, and daughter Samia, 15, died while trying to save their seven-year-old relative from drowning in West Mersea, Essex on July 22.
They heroically rushed into the sea to save the young boy before being swept away by a tide.
About a thousand mourners flocked to East London Mosque in Whitechapel for their funerals.
Heartbroken dad Dr Mansur Rahman, 49, told The Sun he was still suffering from shock and is “fighting to overcome” the tragedy.
He added: “I lost my daughter I lost my wife. Please pray for them.”
Dr Rahman married Selina in the UK after meeting in London about 20 years ago.
He said he had been in London on the day of the tragedy before a pal phoned him and told him the news.
Dr Rahman, from Shadwell, East London, also praised beachgoers, hospital staff and emergency services for trying to save his family.
He said: “The Colchester Hospital staff, they showed us respectful care. They treated us very nicely and beautifully. I really appreciate it.
“I also appreciate the fire brigade, the local Essex community, local police also.
“Whatever they could do they did. I really appreciate it.
“The people who were there when the incident happened. The people who jumped and the ladies who jumped and tried to save my kids I really appreciate it.
“I thank them from the bottom of my heart for my family.”
He added: “I really appreciate them. If I had a chance to appreciate them I will do that. I have appreciation for them.
“Please let them know from my family.”
Mujibur Rahman, 70, grandfather of Samia and father of Selina, told The Sun: “Please pray for my daughter and my granddaughter.
“I still cannot believe what has happened. I hope the young boy in hospital survives. He is still in critical condition.”
He added: “The whole community has been very kind to us. I hope they realise how much it means to us.
“They have kept us going.”
Essex Police said in a statement at the time: “We were called by the ambulance service at 5.35pm on Wednesday 22 July after reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water near Seaview Avenue.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, we can sadly confirm that a teenage girl and a woman in her 40s have died.
“A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those affected at this very difficult time.”
Locals said the tide came in “very quickly” before disaster struck on the packed out beach.
Others described how a young child got in trouble while playing with an inflatable close to a sandbank.
Local retiree Stephen Vince, 74, said: “Everyone is so shocked. We have been pushing the council for better safety measures here for years.
“Another person died here two or three years ago. He went to rescue his son. The man survived but he drowned.
“Even before then we tried to get swimming rafts to keep people safer and towards the shore.”
A friend of the victims’ family, Mishba Uddin, from Colchester, visited the scene at West Mersea.
He said that those involved “all came from London” and had “just came for a day out here”.
“They are a very nice and likeable family,” he added.
