Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

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

Maryam Zakir-Hussain,Matt Mathers,William Mata
Tuesday 06 June 2023 17:20 BST
Boy, 17, and girl, 12, die following incident off Bournemouth beach

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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.

MP calls for police to ‘reassure’ families that beach is safe

Tobias Ellwood, Tory MP for Bournemouth East, has told MailOnline that police need to “reassure” families and provide details on what happened in the tragic yesterday.

He said: “Bournemouth beach is one of the best and safest seaside resorts in the UK.

“The police have an investigation to do but they urgently need to give details of what they believe happened here”.

The beach was cleared to allow helicopters to land on Wednesday
The beach was cleared to allow helicopters to land on Wednesday (PA / Professor Dimitrios Buhalis)
Joe Middleton1 June 2023 15:55

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.

Police arrested a man in his 40s who was “on the water” at the time on suspicion of manslaughter and investigations to establish exactly what happened are ongoing.

Matt Mathers reports.

Bournemouth beach tragedy ‘like scene from horror film’ as body ‘floating in water’

Man in his 40s arrested for the manslaughter after deaths of 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy on Bournemouth beach

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 16:13

Bournemouth beach packed day after two children die in sea tragedy

Footage shows Bournemouth beach packed on Thursday 1 June, less than 24 hours after a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl died after getting into difficulty in the sea.

Emergency services attended the scene on Wednesday afternoon, where eight other people were also recovered from the water.

With temperatures reaching close to 20C today, hundreds of people were seen relaxing on the sand and playing in the sea.

Dorset Police have confirmed the two children who died after sustaining “critical injuries” at the beach yesterday were not related. One man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Bournemouth beach packed day after two children die in sea tragedy

Footage shows Bournemouth beach packed on Thursday 1 June, less than 24 hours after a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl died after getting into difficulty in the sea. Emergency services attended the scene on Wednesday afternoon, where eight other people were also recovered from the water. With temperatures reaching close to 20C today, hundreds of people were seen relaxing on the sand and playing in the sea. Dorset Police have confirmed the two children who died after sustaining “critical injuries” at the beach yesterday were not related. One man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 16:23

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood says Bournemouth council to review protocols on pier after two fatalities

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood says Bournemouth council to review protocols on pier after two fatalities
Joe Middleton1 June 2023 16:46

High Wycombe MP offers condolences to bereaved families

Steve Baker, MP for Wycombe, has released a statement this afternoon offering his condolences to everyone involved in the incident in Bournemouth yesterday.

As reported by the Bucks Free Press, he said: “The death of every child is a tragedy, and I offer my condolences to everyone affected.

“I hope the family will soon have answers about what exactly happened in Bournemouth on Wednesday.”

Earlier we reported that the girl, 12, who died was from High Wycombe.

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 17:15

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.

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

No physical contact between boat and 10 swimmers but man ‘on the water at the time’ arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 17:53

Police search pleasure boat as part of investigation

Police have today searched a pleasure boat as part of the investigation into the deaths of two young people at a beach in Bournemouth yesterday.

Forensic officers were pictured onboard the Dorset Belle which is docked at a harbour in Poole, The Sun reported.

A police source told the newspaper: “This vessel is under a police cordon. No one is permitted onboard or to touch the vessel.”

It comes after police confirmed earlier today that 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.

Dorset Police said they were unable to confirm if a search had been conducted on the vessel.

(Alamy)
Joe Middleton1 June 2023 18:05

What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about incident

Tragedy struck a packed Bournemouth beach yesterday as two youngsters died after being pulled from the sea.

Eight other people were recovered from the water after getting into difficulty off the main pier as thousands of beachgoers enjoyed the sunny half-term weather.

They were treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has been launched by Dorset Police, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about incident

Low tide on 31 May was at 1:44pm and it was a 1m tide, while high tide was at 7:35pm and was 1.89m

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 18:47

Bournemouth beach packed with tourists one day after children died in tragic accident

Bournemouth beach packed with tourists one day after children died in tragic accident
Joe Middleton1 June 2023 19:14

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

Eight other children, who had minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene, were also rescued. It is not thought the group all knew each other.

Pleasure boat searched as girl, 12, and boy, 17, die in beach mystery

Dorset Belle boat searched by police after 10 people pulled from the water at Bournemouth beach

Joe Middleton1 June 2023 19:45

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in