The two youngsters who died in the Bournemouth beach tragedy drowned, an opening inquest has heard.
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.
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.
“It’s just really difficult to accept,” she told The Sun. “Somebody has potentially caused Sunnah to be taken away from us. Ms Williams added the cause of her daughter’s death was “drowning” but there were “no other injuries”.
Dorset Police initially said the deceased has sustained “critical injuries”. Joe, from Southampton, was identified as the other victim.
His family said they were “heartbroken and devastated” at the loss of a “fabulous young man” and “talented trainee chef” who was enjoying a day at Bournemouth beach when he died on Wednesday.
A 40-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the incident has been released under investigation.
Key points
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Two victims drowned, inquest hears
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Mother of ‘angel’ who ‘drowned’ still in dark over what happened
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Teenagers hailed as heroes after risking lives to save drowning man on day of tragedy
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Family of girl who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy say death left ‘hole in our hearts’
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Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor says daughter taken out by ‘rip tide’
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Police search pleasure boat as part of investigation
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Two children who died in sea tragedy ‘not related’, police say
Breaking: Youngsters died of ‘drowning’, inquest hears
11:24 , Matt Mathers
Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, died of drowning following «suggestions» they got caught in a riptide off Bournemouth beach, an inquest opening at Bournemouth has heard.
We’ll have more on this breaking story as it comes in.
‘Angel’ schoolgirl who died at Bournemouth beach ‘was chest-deep when she was pulled under water’
11:15 , Matt Mathers
The 12-year-old girl who died in the Bournemouth beach tragedy was chest-deep in the sea when she was pulled underwater, it has been reported.
Sunnah Khan, 12, from High Wycombe, was standing chest-deep in the sea before the incident unfolded beside Bournemouth Pier, according to The Sun.
A 17-year-old trainee chef from Southampton, Joe Abbess, also died after a struggle in the water.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports:
Schoolgirl who died in Bournemouth ‘was chest-deep when she was pulled under water’
Dorset Police defends handling of ‘complex’ case
10:50 , Matt Mathers
A top policing official has defended Dorset Police’s handling of the Bournemouth beach tragedy, saying it is a“complex” case.
David Sidwick, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Dorset, pushed back against allegations that the force had not provided enough clarity about what happened.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that while there would be a review of police communication “at the end of all this”, officers were dealing with a “complex” case and cooperating with other agencies.
He added: “This is a complex investigation. It includes a number of agencies including the coroner’s office, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Dorset police.
“They are working together as fast as they can to find out what happened on that day. And I truly believe that they need to be given the time and space to do that fully, thoroughly, professionally and without hindrance.
“At this moment in time, we have to understand that this is an immensely complex situation. The police moved to rule out those things which they could rule out when they had enough evidence to be able to do that.
“What they can’t do is say what exactly happened and they shouldn’t because the veracity of any statement made by those investigating this incident must be beyond reproach.
“And not just for any legal situation, but also because it is, to remind everyone – the victims and their families’ needs are paramount.”
Lack of clarity from police fuelling ‘wild speculation online’ – MP
10:35 , Matt Mathers
A lack of clarity from police investigating what happened in the Bournemouth tragedy is fuelling «wild speculation” on social media, a senior MP has said.
Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and chair of the Commons defence committee, suggested the void could be filled with “misleading messaging” by those “who wish us harm”.
Police are keeping an “open mind” about the circumstances that led to the death of two youngsters who got into difficulty in the water off Bournemouth beach.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier, Mr Ellwood said: “Certainly anybody would not want to impede or prejudice the investigation.
“But if the absence of any comprehensive statement becomes standard, I can see who, speaking on a wider picture and security level… those who wish us harm could leverage the void by misleading messaging.
“We do need to understand, learn lessons from this, provide clarity early on – just so people can have an assurance of mind as to what roughly happened, and then make their own assessments as to whether it’s safe to go or whether they should move away.”
What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy
10:15 , Matt Mathers
Bournemouth Pier, like all outcrops in the ocean such as groins, headlands or sandbars, presents danger for swimmers due to riptides, or rip currents.
Rips, as they are commonly known, are strong currents that occur when water that has been pushed towards land by the sea, is tracking back out, creating a channel of water which pulls back out to sea.
Full report:
What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy
ICYMI: Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor addresses rumours
09:39 , Matt Mathers
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.
Tara Cobham reports:
Father of Bournemouth tragedy survivor addresses rumours
Victim’s mother still in the dark over what happened
07:49 , Matt Mathers
The mother of a girl who died in the Bournemouth beach tragedy has said she is still in the dark about what happened during the incident.
Sunnah Khan, 12 and Joe Abbess, 17, died last week after getting into difficulty in the sea off the pier.
Her mother, Stephanie Williams, 32, said she has not been given any information beyond what Dorset Police said at a news conference following the deaths.
“It’s just really difficult to accept,” she told The Sun. «Somebody has potentially caused Sunnah to be taken away from us.
Ms Williams added the cause of her daughter’s death was drowning but there were “no other injuries”.
Recap: everything we know so far about the beach deaths
07:31 , Matt Mathers
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.
Here is everything we know so far:
What happened at Bournemouth pier?
ICYMI: Bournemouth beach victim, 17, was talented young chef
07:28 , Matt Mathers
A 17-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in the water off Bournemouth beach this week has been described by his family as a “fabulous young man” and “a wonderful son and brother”.
Joe Abbess, from Southampton, was “kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny”, they said.
Jane Dalton reports:
Bournemouth beach victim, 17, was talented young chef, say ‘heartbroken’ family
07:28 , Matt Mathers
Good morning and welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Bournemouth beach tragedy.
Two youngsters died last week after getting into difficulty in the sea off the pier.
It remains unclear how the victims, who sustained “critical injuries”, died. We’ll bring you updates on this story as they come in.
Blog closed
Sunday 4 June 2023 21:23 , Joe Middleton
The blog is closed for today.
What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy
Sunday 4 June 2023 19:32 , Joe Middleton
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
Bournemouth: Witness describes ‘panic’ on beach after tragic incident
Sunday 4 June 2023 18:19 , Joe Middleton
Family’s full tribute to ‘wonderful son and brother’
Sunday 4 June 2023 17:45 , Joe Middleton
In a statement provided to Dorset Police, the family of Joe Abbess, said: “We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.
“His family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.
“Joe was a talented trainee chef, with a bright future ahead of him. We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry he will never fulfil his dreams and ambitions.
“He was enjoying a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all of the emergency services who helped him, when this tragedy unfolded.”
Boy, 17, who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy identified by police
Sunday 4 June 2023 17:17 , Joe Middleton
A 17-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in the water off Bournemouth beach this week has been described by his family as a “fabulous young man” and “a wonderful son and brother”.
Joe Abbess, from Southampton, was “kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny”, according to a family statement issued by Dorset Police.
A 12-year-old girl, named in reports as Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died at the same time.
Jane Dalton reports.
Boy, 17, who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy identified by police
Everything we know about impounded sightseeing boat after Bournemouth beach deaths
Sunday 4 June 2023 15:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A sightseeing boat has been impounded by police after two children died in a tragic sea incident in Bournemouth this week.
A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy died after suffering critical injuries during the incident near the Pier on Wednesday.
Eight others were pulled from the water but none of their conditions were life-threatening.
A day after the incident, forensic officers were seen onboard the sightseeing boat, the Dorset Belle, at Cobb’s Quay, Poole Harbour.
Everything we know about the Bournemouth beach deaths
A packed beach, a fight and a single bunch of flowers: Mystery Bournemouth deaths fail to deter tourists
Sunday 4 June 2023 14:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In case you missed it…
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 beach and a bunch of flowers: Busy Bournemouth welcomes tourists day after deaths
What is a riptide? Sea phenomenon explained after Bournemouth tragedy
Sunday 4 June 2023 13:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Bournemouth has been rocked by the tragic deaths of two children who got into trouble in the sea as thousands of half-term…
Continuar leyendo: Cause of deaths revealed for children who died in sea tragedy