A TEENAGE girl and a woman in her forties have died after a group of swimmers got into difficulty in the water near a holiday park in Essex.

Police confirmed the two died today while a third person remains in hospital in a serious condition and two others are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Emergency responders were called to the scene at 5.35pm on Wednesday after reports that several people were in difficulty in the water near Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea beach.

Essex Police believe those involved all knew each other.

One patient was transported by air to hospital while the other three were taken by road after the incident, the East of England Ambulance Service said.

Emergency services urged the public to come forward if they have  information or footage which could assist the police in their investigation, and urged people to avoid part of the beach in Essex after the “tragic incident.”