Bournemouth beach tragedy in which girl, 12, and boy, 17, drowned did not involve any criminality and 40-year-old man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter will face no further action
- Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan died after being pulled out of the water on May 31
No criminal offences were committed during the Bournemouth beach tragedy which saw a girl, 12, and boy 17, drown – as police confirm the 40-year-old man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter will face no further action.
Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan died after being pulled under the water by a riptide close to the shore near the pier in Dorset on May 31, with nine other people also being injured after struggling in the water.
This evening Dorset Police announced it had concluded its investigation and would be taking no further action.
The force also confirmed that the Dorset Belle, a pleasure boat that had been impounded in the wake of the tragedy, had not contributed to the catastrophe.
Witnesses who had watched the disaster unfold close to Bournemouth Pier had suggested that the vessel could have contributed toward creating dangerous sea conditions where the two children were swimming.
Sunnah Khan was pictured laughing on Bournemouth beach shortly before tragedy struck
Joe Abbess had been studying Hospitality at City College Southampton in the hopes of owning his own restaurant in the future
The accident took place on May 31 and saw 11 people being rescued by RNLI lifeguards on the beach. Sadly Joe and Sunnah could not be saved
The accident that took place around 3.50pm saw 11 people rescued by RNLI lifeguards on the beach, but sadly Joe and Sunnah could not be saved.
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan said tonight: ‘During the emergency response that followed, information was given to police, which indicated that the movement of a boat – the Dorset Belle – immediately before the incident occurred could have contributed toward creating dangerous sea conditions.
‘Witnesses suggested that there had been similar issues with the vessel having created such problems previously.
‘Based upon this information an investigation was initiated. It was important that all relevant evidence was captured. Therefore, it was appropriate to examine the boat and determine the actions of the operator. Following the examination, the boat was released.’
He added that the force had to speak with experts to review the material that had been gathered. Those experts needed time to review the material and consider the prevailing tide and meteorological conditions at the time alongside the topography of the shoreline at the location.
‘Also, a large number of witnesses have been spoken to and several sources of CCTV and mobile phone footage were examined. As a result of all of the evidence available, we are now able to confirm that we do not believe that the movement of the Dorset Belle contributed to the incident,’ he added.
‘We have worked with the agencies that lead on beach safety from the outset of this investigation.’
This evening Dorset Police announced it had concluded its investigation and would be taking no further action as no criminal offence had been committed
The Dorset Belle has since ceased all operations from Bournemouth Pier, with operators vowing never to return
Sunnah Khan’s mother, Stephanie Williams, previously said she is concerned ‘about the likelihood that more parents will receive the devastating news that their child has drowned’
The operators of the Dorset Belle vowed in the wake of the May 31 tragedy never to return to the area – ceasing all operations from Bournemouth Pier.
The boat, built in 1974, was impounded at the time and was held under police supervision for weeks.
A statement from the Dorset Belle’s Facebook page last month read: ‘Our thoughts go out to the two children and their families who tragically lost their lives on Bournemouth beach on Wednesday 31st May.
READ MORE: No vessel was involved in Bournemouth beach tragedy which saw 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy drown, Government marine agency announces
‘Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, all operations from Bournemouth Pier have been permanently discontinued. Island Cruises Ltd who own the vessel along with current operators who have recently been running the boat thank all for the support afforded to both companies.’
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said tonight: ‘Following a full and detailed investigation, officers have reached a position to make the evidence-based decision that no criminal offences were committed.
‘No further action will be taken in respect of a man who was arrested in connection with this incident. He has been fully released from the investigation.
‘When the criminal investigation was ongoing only a limited amount of information could be released into the public domain. This was due to the requirement to protect the integrity of the investigation.’
It comes weeks after the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will not be launching a formal investigation into the deaths of Joe and Sunnah after conducting a ‘thorough preliminary assessment of the circumstances of this tragic accident’.
Yesterday, Conservative MP for Aylesbury, Rob Butler, voiced Sunnah’s mothers’ concerns about water safety in the House of Commons, with the school summer holidays fast approaching.
Speaking on behalf of grieving mother Stephanie Williams, said she is concerned ‘about the likelihood that more parents will receive the devastating news that their child has drowned’, her MP told the House of Commons.
Mr Butler described how Ms Williams told him that she did not know how to escape a rip tide until after her daughter died and feared that many others still do not know.
He said: ‘There is a strong case for water safety to be taught to children in particular. And the most obvious way to do so is at school.’
Ms Williams paid tribute to her daughter, who she described as a sociable girl who loved spending time with friends and family
Since the tragedy in May, Ms Williams has spoken out to warn people of the dangers of riptides to try and help other families avoid suffering similar heartbreak
Last month Ms Williams recalled her daughter’s tragic final moments in an interview with Good Morning Britain.
She said: ‘They [Sunnah and her brother] were in between the flags on the beach. They then ended up where they couldn’t touch the bottom. They said a wave came over. They started to shout for help.
Mother of schoolgirl, 12, who died at Bournemouth beach calls for water safety to be improved or ‘more parents will receive the devastating news their child has drowned’
‘A lifeguard pulled my son from the water, but they were unable to locate Sunnah. She was washed out. They had started to try and make their way back, but they couldn’t.’
Since the tragedy in May, Ms Williams has spoken out to warn people of the dangers of riptides to try and help other families avoid suffering similar heartbreak.
‘It’s really important for people to know the dangers of what can happen in the sea, even in shallow water.
‘It’s important to know what to do should you find yourself in trouble in the water and having some information that’s viewable when you’re on the beach.’
Last month, she paid tribute to her daughter, who she described as a sociable girl who loved spending time with friends and family.
‘She was a lovely toddler and a lovely young child at all stages of her life, and she would have become a lovely woman.
‘She cared about a lot of people, and it’s such a shame that she’s not going to become the young lady that I thought she would be.’
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