A coastguard in Southend has thanked members of the public who assisted with the rescue of a mother and daughter, after they nearly drowned near the Essex coast.
The girl was seen to be struggling to keep her head above the water, but her mother had ventured into the sea to assist her, just before 3pm on Sunday July 17 at Marine Parade in
Southend.However, the mother encountered difficulties herself and lost consciousness, having swallowed seawater, Essex Live reports.
Members of the public managed to rescue both the mother and her daughter, and give them first aid on the beach, before the coastguard arrived.
The coastguard has now thanked these people for helping the family, and to one of the mother's younger children who acted as a translator at the scene.
A spokesman said: "Southend Coastguard arrived on scene to find the casualties now already in the care of East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust being treated. A young child got into difficulties in the water and was struggling to keep their head above water, when their mother then went into the water to help rescue their daughter but also got into difficulties.
"Both casualties were then pulled from the water, by persons unknown, with the mother we believe at the time to have been unconscious with members of the public giving first aid having swallowed some water. The mother, post coming around, then was helped to the waiting ambulance to be treated further with their child.
"Southend Coastguard then supported the wider family (6 young children and 2 further adults) and worked with the paramedic to convince the casualties they needed to go to hospital to be checked over as they were at risk of 'secondary drowning'. The casualties and the children were then transferred as a family to hospital so that both the mother and her child were able to get further treatment.
"We would like to thank the members of the public that helped the 2 casualties out of the water and gave immediate first aid, our huge thanks and gratitude in helping them at their time of need. We would also like to say a big thanks to the one young child in the family group who was able to help as a translator between HM Coastguard officers and the paramedics with the casualties on scene.
"You are a credit to your family, at a time that must have been very traumatic but your composure was very commendable for someone so young, well done. Should you see anyone in trouble on or near the coast, don’t hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, you could save someone’s life."
