The victims of Bournemouth Beach’s drowning tragedy are identified as Joe Abbess (17-year-old) and Sunnah Khan (12 years old). Joe was a ‘fabulous young man’ who was kind, loving, hardworking, and a resident of Southampton, as per the statements of Dorset police. He was an employee at Gather and Gather as a Hospitability and Catering trainee and a Southampton football club member.
On Sunday, more than 200 people attended the funeral of Sunnah Khan at the Central Mosque in High Wycombe. A family friend attending to pay respects shared with The Sun that ‘Sunnah was very popular, and her death will leave a hole that is impossible to fill.’ Khan was a student and is remembered by her friends and community as an ‘absolute force of nature and an angel.”
The investigation of their deaths and the injuries of eight other victims is underway following last week’s Bournemouth Beach tragedy.
What happened at Bournemouth Beach? | Timeline
Footage of additional emergency services arriving at scene of yesterday’s major incident on #Bournemouthbeach #Bournemouth
Heard helicopter/s, sirens etc – had no idea of the tragic scene unfolding below. Sympathies to the families of the 2 youngsters who lost their life. pic.twitter.com/g2HbFKu8ev— #Sunny 🌞Bournemouth (@_bournemouth) June 1, 2023
The tragic drowning incident occurred during the half-term on Wednesday when Bournemouth Beach was packed. Rescuers saved the 10 victims from the water, of which 8 didn’t suffer any critical injuries, while two victims, Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan, died soon after arriving at the hospital.
Police arrested a man in his 40s, who was on the water during the tragedy of alleged manslaughter, but he was released, and the investigations continued. On the following day of the tragedy, the forensics investigated the Dorset Belle at Cobb’s Quay, Poole Harbour.
This Bournemouth beach incident is getting more bizarre. No vessel was involved. A man was arrested 'on' the water. Swimmers must have been smashed against the pier. Not sure why a man has been arrested for that though.
— Lordy_Lawman (@LawmanLordy) June 1, 2023
On Friday, the Dorset police released their official statement stating that the swimmers didn’t collide with any vessel or jet-ski. They also carried the rumor that none of the victims jumped from the pier. However, police haven’t cleared the investigation reports of Dorset Belle.
- According to the ship tracking website of Marine Traffic, Dorset Belle left the pier at 4 PM on the day of the incident and didn’t return until 4:38 PM, shortly after emergency responders requested assistance at 4:32 PM.
- The Dorset Belle is a passenger boat that usually travels to closeby destinations such as Brownsea Island, Poole, and Swanage. It can also travel as far as Southampton, Weymouth, and the Isle Of Wight. The cruise around Dorset Coast usually takes around 40 minutes.
Is riptide a possible cause of the Bournemouth Beach tragedy?
The father of an 18-year-old victim, Lauren Tate, shared that his daughter was swimming with her friends when a riptide ‘took them out.’ He further clarified the assumptions about the involvement of boats circulating online, stating, “We’ve seen the stuff about vessels and jet-ski, but it wasn’t like that.“
- According to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), riptides are strong currents that can pull swimmers from shallow water to deep ends of the sea. These often harmless currents are a significant cause of accidental drowning around large headlands and piers across the world.
- Dorset coroner’s officer Nicola Muller also acknowledged the suggestions of the riptide as a possible cause of the tragedy during the opening of the inquest at Bournemouth Town Hall. Furthermore, disclosing drowning as the cause of death for the two victims, culinary student Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan.
The Bournemouth East MP, Tobias Ellwood, call for a safety review and police clarifications
#LatestNews | ACC Rachel Farrell has provided the below update on the Bournemouth beach incident.
We’re asking witnesses not to circulate footage on social media and instead to share it with detectives via the major incident public portal here: https://t.co/aS2Zdb8C8p pic.twitter.com/q5enXCKTfW
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) June 1, 2023
After MP Tobias Ellwood’s request, DCE Neil Corrigan of Dorset police shared a statement sharing the progress of their investigation. He clarified that police have ruled out any involvement of vessels and the possibility of the victims’ jumping from the pier as there isn’t any suggestion of either.
- He further shared that the beach was bustling when the incident occurred and urged possible witnesses to share any information that could assist their investigation. DCE Corrigan also shared that police are keeping an open mind about the circumstances surrounding Joe Abbess’s and Sunnah Khan’s deaths.
- “In accordance with the investigation of any incidents of this nature, we have to investigate all the possible factors connected to the state of water,” he said. “One of these inquiries involved Dorset Belle, a pleasure boat, which was in the area at the time of the accident.“
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
Police shared that apart from those, the inquiries also involve examining natural factors such as wind, weather, and other general coastal conditions at the time of the incident.
- “We are working closely with the experts from partner agencies to understand all the factors (affecting the state of water), and this will take time to establish,” he stated.
- DCE Corrigan also clarified that police continue to extend their support to the families of victims Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan. “Our specially trained family liaison officers are sharing all the updates of the investigations with the families.”
We express our sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.
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