A 14-year-old girl who died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Essex died of immersion, an inquest has heard.

Malika Shamas, from Luton, was on a family trip to Clacton-on-Sea and was playing in the water with her older brother Haider Ali, and their cousin, a hearing in Chelmsford was told.

Both Malika and her brother, who was 18, died after getting into difficulty near Clacton Pier last week.

Provisional results of Malika’s post-mortem revealed she died of immersion, while Mr Ali died in hospital of pneumonia, brain damage and drowning.

Jemma Cook, the coroner’s officers, said Malika was pulled from the water on 8 August, and a lifeguard performed CPR.

She was taken to Colchester General Hospital and died later that day.

Her brother was also pulled from the water, and was found to be in cardiac arrest.

He was taken to hospital and died two days later.

Toxicology tests are being carried out on Malika.

Essex’s senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray, opening and adjourning the two inquests, said: “Please let the court’s sympathy be extended to the family at this dreadful time.”

A full inquest has been set for 17 February.

On Monday, their father Shamas Riaz, told ITV: “They were beautiful. I miss them. Haider was great. He liked sport; to study. Malika was happy, she made other people happy.”

Cousin Haroon Khan, 14, was with them, and raised the alarm. He told ITV they had been playing and hadn’t realised how far they had gone.

Their uncle Majid Riaz explained they were on an annual family get-together, and when he was asked to go and find out where the four teenagers had gone, it was too late.

Essex police said a 15-year-old girl who was also pulled from the water with the siblings, and is a relative, is expected to make a full recovery.

Witnesses described “distressing” scenes at about 1.40pm on 8 August, as lifeguards and paramedics rushed to help the three teenagers after they were spotted in the water near Marine Parade.

Several members of the public helped the rescue effort, and two other people were treated at the scene.

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