All boat operations have been suspended off Bournemouth pier following the death of two young swimmers, the local authority has announced.
Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, drowned and eight other people were treated by paramedics after they were suspected to have been caught in a riptide next to the pier at the Dorset seaside resort on May 31. A man in his 40s, whom police said was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later released under investigation.
Dorset Police impounded the pleasure cruiser Dorset Belle at its berth in Poole Harbour following the fatal incident. The force has said it is continuing to investigate the circumstances involving the 49-year-old boat, which has a capacity of 80 passengers, as well as the weather and sea conditions at the time of the incident.
