Clacton Pier: Haider Shamas, 18, dies two days after sister

The swimmers were pulled from the sea near Clacton Pier on Thursday

An 18-year-old man who got into difficulty in the sea off the Essex coast has died, days after his teenage sister was killed in the same incident.

Haider Shamas and his 14-year-old sibling Malika, both from Luton, were rescued from the water near Clacton Pier on Thursday.

Malika died hours later while Haider died on Saturday.

Police said a 15-year-old girl, who is a relative and was pulled from the sea with the pair, is expected to recover.

A witness said the teenagers had been with a group of up to 30 people at the beach.

Onlookers tried to help the siblings after they were pulled from the water, with some performing CPR on the beach until ambulances arrived.

All three were treated at Colchester General Hospital, police said.

Flowers have been left near Clacton Pier

Volunteers from the Clacton RNLI Lifeboat attended the scene, along with the police, ambulance and coastguard.

In a post on Facebook, the RNLI said it had been "praying for a more positive outcome".

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family at this heartbreaking time," it added.

Last July, Ben Quartermaine, 15, died after getting into difficulty while swimming with a friend near Clacton Pier.

His mother and stepfather Vicky and Colin Gentry said a lack of warning signs in Clacton was "one of the main issues".

They also called for better education for "all year groups in all schools, whether coastal or not".

'Lives at risk'

Clacton's beach patrol said several people had been swimming close to the pier on Sunday, despite red flags warning against going in the sea due to strong winds.

Lifeguard Sian Rowlen said: "We don't feel it's safe enough for people to go out. They have to be very conscious of the fact they're going out when we've advised them not to.

"If we do have to go out after them, it might be not only their lives at risk but ours as well."

Air ambulances were called to the scene