A teenage boy and girl, 12, died of drowning at Bournemouth beach last Wednesday, a coroner has been told as an investigation continues.
An inquest opened on Monay morning for Sunnah Khan, 12, from Buckinghamshire, and Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton, after they died in hospital following an incident in the water during the half-term holidays.
Dorset coroner’s officer Nicola Muller said: “The brief circumstances are that emergency services were contacted by members of the public following swimmers had come into difficulty in the water, following suggestion they had been caught in a riptide.”
Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset, said: “I wish to take this opportunity to remind all those who enter the sea or open water to be aware of the powers of the water and the risks of swimming in open water.
“It’s important they are aware of how to respond when problems arise and urge people to follow guidance from public agencies such as the RNLI.”
Ms Griffin adjourned the hearing until a pre-inquest review to be held on September 18. Neither of the families of the two deceased were present at the short hearing.
It comes as Dorset Police keep an “open mind” about the circumstances leading to their deaths as they continue to appeal for witnesses.
A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and was released under investigation on Thursday.
Police have also said they are aware of “significant speculation” concerning a pleasure boat, which was in the area at the time, but confirmed it was just one of several lines of inquiry.
The Dorset Belle sightseeing boat, impounded by police after the incident, has been searched by officers over the weekend, Sky News reports.
Dorset Police have said that the beach was extremely busy at the time and they are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Police have said that neither of the deceased young people or anyone else pulled from the sea at the time of the incident was involved in any collision or contact with any vessel in the water.
Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood has questioned the lack of clarity from police for the victims’ families, but David Sidwick, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, defended the force.
He told BBC Radio 4 on Monday 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.
Mr Sidwick said: “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.”
In a tribute posted online, Sunnah’s mother Stephanie Williams wrote: “On Wednesday I lost my beautiful daughter at Bournemouth beach. Sunnah was so well loved and well liked. No parent should ever have to go through what her dad and I are going through. We love you so much baby girl.”
On Wednesday I lost my beautiful daughter at Bournemouth beach. Sunnah was so well loved and well liked. No parent should ever have to go through what her dad and I are going through. We love you so much baby girl 💕 pic.twitter.com/Ekxgfr7FVF
— Stephanie Williams (@smw_rn) June 4, 2023
More than 200 people are reported to have attended the funeral for Sunnah Khan at High Wycombe Mosque in her home town.
The family of Joe paid tribute in a statement saying: “We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.
The family said Joe was a “talented trainee chef” and “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.”
Dorset Police received a report from paramedics at about 4.30pm on Wednesday afternoon of people requiring assistance on the beach near to Bournemouth Pier.
Emergency services attended the scene and 10 people were recovered from the water, with eight of them being treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
