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
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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.
Watch: Witness describes ‘panic’ on beach after tragic incident
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.”
Bournemouth tragedy survivor’s father addresses rumours as police probe pleasure boat
Two children died after being pulled from the sea near Bournemouth Pier
A packed beach, a fight and a single bunch of flowers: Mystery Bournemouth deaths fail to deter tourists
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:
A lone bunch of flowers among the countless holidaymakers serves as a reminder of the tragic event that took place less than 24 hours ago.
The sun beats down on Bournemouth as children delight in digging sandcastles around the pink roses, sunbathing parents watch on, and the sounds of teenagers laughing and playing music waft on the breeze.
On Wednesday afternoon this stretch of beach, enjoying shade from the iconic pier, witnessed a tragedy that has baffled the country.
A beach and a bunch of flowers: Busy Bournemouth welcomes tourists day after 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
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”.
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:
What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy
Strong rip currents can flow at up to 5mph - the speed of an Olympic swimmer
Pleasure boat ‘Dorset Belle’ guarded by police cars this morning in Bournemouth
A cruise boat called the Dorset Belle which has been impounded at Cobb’s Quay Marina in Poole, Dorset, is being guarded by police this morning.
It comes after a 17-year-old-boy and a girl aged 12 sustained “critical injuries” on Wednesday, and later died in hospital following an incident off Bournemouth beach
MP calls for safety review following Bournemouth beach tragedy
A Bournemouth MP has called for a review of safety following the death of two youngsters who died after getting into trouble off the popular beach and called on police to clarify the circumstances to end “wild speculation”.
The sightseeing boat, the Dorset Belle, which is at the centre of investigations, has been impounded by Dorset Police following the incident on Wednesday in which a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire and a 17-year-old boy from Southampton died.
Another eight people were treated by paramedics.
A man aged in his 40s who was “on the water” at the time was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and has been released under investigation on Thursday while police inquiries continue.
On Friday, the 49-year-old sea-going passenger boat Dorset Belle remains at anchor at Cobb’s Quay, Poole Harbour, guarded by a police van.
According to the website Marine Traffic, the vessel had visited Bournemouth Pier, the scene of the tragic incident, at 4pm, just minutes before the first 999 calls were made.
Dorset Police has said that no physical contact was made between the swimmers and any vessel or jet-ski and those involved had not been jumping off the pier.
The force has declined to comment on any investigation into the Dorset Belle and refused to say what or if any vessel was involved
Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP, for Bournemouth East, told the PA news agency: “There needs to be a review, the police are conducting their investigation, there needs to be a review of the circumstances to see whether any safety measures and protocols need to be upgraded to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.
“I encourage Dorset Police to clarify the general circumstances of this tragic accident to avoid further wild speculation and uncertainty for parents who may be cautious about going to any part of the beach, unclear of exactly what happened in this terrible incident.”
The vessel’s website states that it was purpose-built as a passenger boat to operate locally and could “cope with the occasional challenging swell conditions encountered at local piers”.
Eyewitnesses suggest swimmers got caught up in dangerous riptide on in Bournemouth sea tragedy
Eyewitnesses to Wednesday’s tragedy have suggested that the swimmers got caught up in a dangerous riptide leading to the fatal incident.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council leader Councillor Vicky Slade has said she will be discussing safety at the pier with local MP Conor Burns on Friday.
The local authority’s website states that all passenger-carrying boats must be issued with a licence to operate in the area.
It also states from April to October, yellow marker buoys are set out 200 metres from the low water mark to indicate that watercraft must not “go beyond 6 knots, annoy or endanger other beach users or run ashore or launch from the beach.”
The nearby Boscombe artificial reef has the speed limit all-year round.
Cllr Slade said: “There is no evidence to suggest any of those rules have been breached.
“We are confident with our partners that any lessons that need to be learned in the future will be learned.”
Dorset Police has said they are working with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to investigate the incident.
People inspect the impounded Dorset Belle
Pictures show a group of people inspecting the cabin of the Dorset Belle cruise boat which has been impounded at Cobb's Quay Marine in Poole, Dorset.
What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about incident
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.
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.
Read on here:
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
Map shows route pleasure boat Dorset Belle took at time of tragedy
Here is a map which shows the journey that pleasure boat Dorset Belle took at the time of the incident on Bournemouth beach.
The boat left the pier at 4pm and then returned at 4.38pm, shortly after the ambulance service requested assistance near the pier.
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