Coastguard called to ‘tragic’ West Mersea beach incident

At the scene: BBC reporter Lewis Adams

“Part of the beach at the bottom of Seaview Avenue in West Mersea has been cordoned off and police are focusing their on-land inquiries on part of the sand where there are windbreakers in place.

This is a spot that gets really busy when it’s hot, being the main beach on what is seen as a pretty exclusive island on the Essex coast, south-east of Colchester.

But tonight it is busy for a different reason. There has been a huge presence of police, paramedics and water rescue workers in the area – and they remained there as it got dark.

A lifeboat could be seen launching at one point and searching the water. Police officers are also searching the shoreline with torches as the light fades.”