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.
Police say there was 'no physical contact' between vessel and swimmers at Bournemouth beach
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
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.
Bournemouth tragedy survivor’s father addresses rumours as police probe pleasure boat
Two children died after being pulled from the sea near Bournemouth Pier
ICYMI: Bournemouth MP calls for police to end speculations
Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, called for Dorset police to end “wild speculation” around the tragic incident that led to the death of a 12-year old and a 17-year-old at the beach.
“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,” Mr Ellwood told PA.
“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,” he said.
Bournemouth beach tragedy ‘like scene from horror film’ as child’s body ‘floated in water’
In case you missed it...
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.
Nicola Holton, 43, and Stuart Clark, 42, were on the beach with their two children when the tragedy unfolded shortly after 4pm yesterday. They said the scene turned into something from “a horror film.”
Ms Holton said: “A lifeguard ran into the water with a surfboard and it seemed to take ages for him to get to them. There was an announcement to get out of the water and then the lifeguards started bringing people back to shore.
“A few were taken to the lifeguard tent and then we saw the young man and girl brought out. We were packing up our things to leave as quickly as we could. It was just awful.”
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
Watch: Witness describes ‘panic’ on beach after tragic incident
Tory MP says Dorset Police should provide more information
Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, said he believed Dorset Police should provide more information to avoid “wild speculation”.
He said: “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”.
Family and friends pay tribute to 12-year-old girl who died in Bournemouth sea tragedy
Tributes have also flooded in on social media for the 12-year-old girl who passed away on Wednesday afternoon in Bournemouth.
The girl, identified as Sunnah on social media, died after getting into difficulty in the water next to Bournemouth Pier.
One friend wrote online: “She was such an amazing person. She was so kind caring, her smile lit up a room. It was far too early for our angel to gain wings.”
Another said: “She was basically my sister and I can’t believe it. Love you so much Sunnah.”
A relative of the 12-year-old, who lived in High Wycombe, has also paid tribute, saying the family will remember her “every day for the rest of our lives”.
“She was an absolute force of nature, liked by all and loved by so many,” The Times quotes a family member as saying. “She will be so sorely missed by her parents, siblings and friends.
“There are no words to describe the hole she has left in all of our hearts but we will remember her every day for the rest of our lives.”
Family of girl who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy say death left ‘hole in our hearts’
The family of a 12-year-old girl who died in a tragic incident on Bournemouth beach has said her death left “a hole in all of our hearts”.
The girl, identified as Sunnah on social media, and a 17-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in the water next to Bournemouth Pier.
Eight others were pulled from the water on Wednesday but did not suffer serious injuries.
Police arrested a man in his 40s who was “on the water” at the time on suspicion of manslaughter, but he has since been released under investigation.
A relative of the 12-year-old, who lived in High Wycombe, has now paid tribute, saying the family will remember her “every day for the rest of our lives”.
“She was an absolute force of nature, liked by all and loved by so many,” The Times quotes a family member as saying. “She will be so sorely missed by her parents, siblings and friends.
“There are no words to describe the hole she has left in all of our hearts but we will remember her every day for the rest of our lives.”
Family of girl who died in Bournemouth tragedy say death left ‘hole in our hearts’
‘She was an absolute force of nature,’ grieving family of 12-year-old says
Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor addresses rumours
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.”
Read on here:
Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor addresses rumours
Two children died after being pulled from the sea near Bournemouth Pier
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