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

[1 June 2023 20:15 · Joe Middleton]

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

[1 June 2023 20:28 · Joe Middleton]

Man, 40, arrested after Bournemouth incident released under investigation

A man arrested following the deaths of a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl off Bournemouth beach has been released under investigation.

A 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire died after getting into difficulty in the water at the Dorset resort on Wednesday afternoon.

A further eight people were treated by paramedics following the incident.

A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Dorset

Police said on Thursday evening he had been released under investigation.

[1 June 2023 21:30 · Joe Middleton]

A packed beach, a fight and a single bunch of flowers: Bournemouth continues to welcome tourists the day after mystery deaths

Mystery still surrounds the events that saw a 17 year-old-boy and a 12 year-girl lose their lives - but Bournemouth beach was as busy as ever. Tara Cobham reports from the seaside town.

[1 June 2023 22:30 · Joe Middleton]

Beachgoers filmed Bournemouth tragedy victim receiving CPR

Beachgoers filmed paramedics delivering CPR to people involved in an incident off Bournemouth Pier that killed two youngsters, witnesses have said.

The deceased - a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl - sustained “critical injuries” and died after being pulled from the sea.

Eight other people were treated for injuries described as non-threatening.

[1 June 2023 23:30 · Joe Middleton]

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

[2 June 2023 01:00 · Joe Middleton]

A packed beach, a fight and a single bunch of flowers: Bournemouth continues to welcome tourists the day after mystery deaths

Mystery still surrounds the events that saw a 17 year-old-boy and a 12 year-girl lose their lives - but Bournemouth beach was as busy as ever. Tara Cobham reports from the seaside town.

[2 June 2023 02:00 · Joe Middleton]

Bournemouth beach tragedy ‘like scene from horror film’ as child’s body ‘floated in water’

Eyewitnesses described a tragedy on Bournemouth beach that left two children dead as “like a horror movie”.

A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy suffered “critical” injuries in a fatal incident that occurred next to Bournemouth Pier on Wednesday afternoon.

[2 June 2023 03:00 · Joe Middleton]

No jet skis or pier jumpers involved in Bournemouth beach deaths, police say

No jet skis or pier jumping were involved in the deaths of two children at Bournemouth beach, Dorset Police have said.

There was also no physical contact between the 10 swimmers plucked from the waves on Wednesday evening and any vessel, the force added on Thursday. A 40-year-old man “on the water” at the time of the tragedy has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The youngsters who died after being pulled from the sea – a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl – had suffered “critical injuries”. Eight other people were treated on the beach for injuries described as non-threatening.

[2 June 2023 04:00 · Joe Middleton]

Police search pleasure boat as girl, 12, and boy, 17, die in beach incident mystery

Police are searching a pleasure boat after a major incident on an English beach left two children dead.

The half-term tragedy saw a 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from High Wycombe lose their lives after being pulled from the sea in Bournemouth on Wednesday afternoon.

[2 June 2023 05:00 · Joe Middleton]

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