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
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. 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.
Bournemouth: Witness describes 'panic' on beach after tragic incident
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.
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.
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
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.
Beachgoers filmed Bournemouth tragedy victim receiving CPR
‘People were running towards those having CPR filming on their phones’, one woman says
Bournemouth: Witness describes 'panic' on beach after tragic incident
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
Pleasure boat searched as girl, 12, and boy, 17, die in beach mystery
Dorset Belle searched by police after 10 swimmers pulled from sesa at Bournemouth beach
Boy, 17, and girl, 12, die following incident off Bournemouth beach
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.