Bournemouth beach deaths – latest: Boat operations halted after ‘riptide’ pier tragedy

Sunnah Khan, 12 and Joe Abbess, 17, died last week after getting into difficulty off the pier

Boy, 17, and girl, 12, die following incident off Bournemouth beach

Boat operations from Bournemouth Pier, where two youngsters died last week, have been suspended as a precaution.

Sunnah Khan, 12, described by a family friend as an “angel”, and Joe Abbess, 17, died last week after getting into difficulty in the sea off the pier.

An inquest heard on Monday that they died of ‘drowning’.

Earlier, Sunnah’s mother Stephanie Williams said she was still in the dark about what happened during the incident and had not been given any information beyond what Dorset Police said at a news conference following the deaths.

On Tuesday, the local council said that a ban on boat operations would remain while the police carry out an investigation.

A statement, seen by the Independent, said: “All boat operations from the pier have been suspended as a precaution, pending a conclusion to the police investigation.

“We are aware the investigation is complex and will consult with Dorset Police when the investigation is complete.”

A 40-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the incident has been released under investigation.

Key points

• Two victims drowned, inquest hears
• Mother of ‘angel’ who drowned still in dark over what happened
• Teenagers hailed as heroes after risking lives to save drowning man on day of tragedy
• Family of girl who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy say death left ‘hole in our hearts’
• Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor says daughter taken out by ‘rip tide'
• Police search pleasure boat as part of investigation
• Two children who died in sea tragedy ‘not related', police say

[3 June 2023 13:50 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about the area

Jet skis and other watercraft operating in the Bournemouth and Poole areas must follow specific rules between April and October.

Bournemouth, a popular seaside town on England’s south coast, is popular with locals and tourists during the summer months.

Average temperatures in and around the pier area of the sea are 12.4C for the month of June and can exceed 16 in September, according to the surf-forecast website.

The website says the area tends to receive a mix of “groundswells” and “windswells”, with surfers warned to “watch out for rips and crowds.”

[3 June 2023 14:15 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy

Police are still establishing what happened during the incident, but a father of one of the beach tragedy survivors has claimed his 18-year-old daughter - who spent a short time in hospital after the incident - was taken out by a “riptide”.

It comes after police dismissed speculation that the victims had jumped off the pier or were hit by a vessel on the water.

Here we look at what a riptide is and what to do if you get caught in one:

[3 June 2023 15:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Teenager hailed a ‘hero’ for helping struggling swimmers to shore on Bournemouth beach

A 15-year-old from Basingstone has been called a “hero” after he helped people struggling in choppy waters on Bournemouth beach.

Kaiden Andre, 15, was swimming in the water with his friend Ioana near Bournemouth pier when he heard the shouts of a man.

His mum, Jody, told the Daily Echo: “He was kicking and flapping but Kaiden managed to keep his head above water. Then Iona began having some trouble and so he did the same with her.

“Kaiden said to me he has never known the sea to be that choppy. There was no jumping off the pier, no speeding boats, he just saw this young guy in trouble and went to help.”

[3 June 2023 16:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor addresses rumours as police probe pleasure boat

The father of one of the survivors of the Bournemouth beach tragedy has addressed the rumours surrounding the mystery events that led to the deaths of a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, as police search a pleasure boat as part of their investigation.

Survivor Lauren Tate, 18, one of eight others who were injured, was treated in hospital and is now continuing to recover at home, after a rip tide took her and her friends out to sea when they were swimming by the pier, according to her father.

In response to the intense speculation that has surrounded the incident, her father told MailOnline: “We’ve seen all the stuff about boats and jet skis but it wasn’t like that. She was swimming in the sea with her friends when the rip tide took them out.

“She was lucky to get pulled from the sea by the coastguard and one of her other friends was rescued by a paddleboarder.

“I know the boy who died was at college with her, but I don’t know anything about him. All she told me is that they all met up on the train and headed to Bournemouth beach for the day.”

[3 June 2023 17:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about incident

Here’s everything we know so far after a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire and a 17-year-old boy from Southampton died in a tragic incident.

[3 June 2023 18:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy

Bournemouth has been rocked by the tragic deaths of two children who got into trouble in the sea as thousands of half-term holidaymakers descended on the popular beach.

A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy died after suffering critical injuries during the incident near Bournemouth Pier on Wednesday.

Eight others were pulled from the water but none of their conditions were life-threatening.

Police are still establishing what happened during the incident, but a father of one of the beach tragedy survivors has claimed his 18-year-old daughter - who spent a short time in hospital after the incident - was taken out by a “riptide”.

[3 June 2023 19:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Watch: Witness describes 'panic' on beach after tragic incident

[3 June 2023 20:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Dorset Police dismiss reports of jumping off pier or jet skis involved in incident

At a press conference on Thursday, Dorset Police dismissed reports that the deceased had jumped from the pier or had been hit by a jet ski.

Rachel Farrell, assistant chief constable, confirmed that none of the swimmers had been in “physical contact” with any vessel.

She said that a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and the force was investigating what “caused that to happen”.

“As we have a person in custody, you will know there is only limited information I can give about the investigation,” Ms Farrell said.

“However, to avoid further speculation, I am able to tell you that it’s clear that yesterday a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and we are investigating the circumstances or event that caused that to happen.

Ms Farrell added that the two who died were not related to each other and those involved were “different people from different families” who were assisted by “great-spirited members of the public”.

[3 June 2023 21:00 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Everything we know about impounded sightseeing boat after Bournemouth beach deaths

A sightseeing boat has been impounded by police after two children died in a tragic sea incident in Bournemouth this week.

A day after the incident, forensic officers were seen onboard the sightseeing boat, the Dorset Belle, at Cobb’s Quay, Poole Harbour.

Here’s everything we know:

[4 June 2023 08:36 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Teenagers hailed as heroes after risking lives to save drowning man on day of tragedy

Two teenagers have been hailed heroes after they helped bring a man struggling in the water off Bournemouth pier to safety.

The teenagers were swimming in water at Bournemouth beach on the day of a tragic incident which saw a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy die, and eight others pulled from the sea with injuries.

Iona Hunter, 14, and Kaiden Andre, 15, said they swam out to help a young man and young woman.

“The man was struggling, so me and Kaiden both put his weight on our shoulders to help keep him afloat,” The Times quotes Ioana as saying.

“I wasn’t really feeling anything at that point — I was just thinking about trying to get him back to shore. He was heavy . . . he had inhaled lots of water.”

The 14-year-old estimated that a lifeguard swam out to them around 15 minutes after she raised her hand to get their attention.