The mum of a 12-year-old girl killed in an incident in the sea of Dorset says her life was 'full of promise' and says she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. Sunnah Khan was one of two children killed in an incident in the sea at Bournmenouth which remains under police investigation.
Eight other people were injured and all boat operations in nearby waters have been suspended after the incident just a few days ago.
Mum Stephanie Williams, 32, told The Mirror : “There isn’t a word in the English dictionary that describes the pain – I don’t know how we will ever move on from this.
“The idea of her being in the water, feeling scared and knowing she’s going to drown… it’s gut-wrenching.”
Sunnah shares a cuddle with Stephanie
Sunnah was with her dad, aunt and two siblings at Bournemouth beach when she got into difficulty in the water along with nine other swimmers. An inquest that opened on Monday heard they may have been caught in a riptide.
Sunnah with face paint
Stephanie, an emergency nurse, was leaving work when she learned what had happened. She said: “My world came crashing down. I’ve been stuck in that moment ever since.”
The mum-of-four drove to Poole Hospital, where Sunnah was taken, to say goodbye. Stephanie said: “Sunnah was a force to be reckoned with. She had so many friends at school.
“She was brilliant at maths and wanted to be a lawyer – which she’d be very good at because she was good at arguing!”
Stephanie said: “I’d like to share Sunnah’s story in schools and push for water safety to be a mandatory part of the curriculum.”
Hundreds of mourners lined the street for Sunnah’s funeral last Saturday. Stephanie added: “I just hope she knew how many people loved her.”
