Police have released more details about the two children who died in an incident off Bournemouth beach in Dorset. Police say the children were a 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire who were taken to hospital but could not be saved.
Police have also asked people to stop sharing video of the incident and instead send it to them to form part of the investigation, being carried out with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the coastguard.
Police said Jetskis were not involved in the incident and people were not jumping from the pier. Eight other people were treated at the scene and were not taken to hospital.
There is “no suggestion” of people jumping from Bournemouth pier or of jet skis being involved in the incident that led to the deaths of a 17-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl in the sea off Bournemouth beach on Wednesday, Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell told a press conference.
Police have confirmed that no vessel is believed to have been in “physical contact” with a 17-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl who died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Bournemouth beach. Police say the two were not related or known to each other.
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.
The force said that a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl sustained “critical injuries” and later died in hospital, while the other eight people were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
A man aged in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, according to police.
A force spokesman said on Thursday: “We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident that occurred yesterday resulting in the deaths of a 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy.
“We are working with partner agencies to understand what has caused the tragedy.
“However, early investigation indicates that there was no physical contact between a vessel and any swimmers at the time of the incident.
“We are investigating the circumstances that caused a number of swimmers to get into difficulty.
“Further information will be released as the investigation progresses.”
Families who have arrived at the beach on Thursday have spoken of their shock at the previous day’s events.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s such a shame, people just come here to have fun during the half term, it’s a real tragedy.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the young people who tragically died and we are doing all we can to support their families.
“I understand the beach was very busy at the time of the incident and I would ask anyone with information that may assist our inquiries to please come forward.
“We are at the early stages of our investigation and would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the incident was a “salutary lesson” that “danger is ever present” on beaches and the ocean.
“Thoughts with everyone associated with the dreadful events unfolding in Bournemouth this evening,” he said.
“A salutary lesson that our beaches and ocean can give much pleasure but danger is ever present.
“Thanks to the lifeguards and the Air Ambulance who we can take for granted.”
Witness Tom Saunders told Sky News: “I was surfing on the west side with about four other people and we heard the lifeguard sirens going off, making announcements and the beach got cleared either side.
“Obviously we knew something had gone on and the helicopter was coming so we knew it was serious.
“Unfortunately I saw someone receiving CPR, the lifeguards put up a screen so no-one could see but unfortunately from where we were we could.
“The jetskis were going round the pier looking for stuff so me and three other surfers offered to help and actually paddled into the pier to have a look.
“They said there were two people missing at the time then after about half an hour they said everyone was accounted for and we just carried on.”
Another witness, Howard Cohen, from London, said: “I could see a lot of commotion going on. There were a lot of ambulances, police and people rushing to the beach.
“Later on they cleared the beach. It was just awful. At the time there was a lot of panic going on with the police and ambulance.”
Mourners placed a bunch of flowers on the sand close to the pier on Thursday morning.
Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said officers are investigating the “circumstances or event” that caused a number of people to get into difficulty in the water in Bournemouth on Wednesday.
She said: “Following our initial inquiries, a man aged in his 40s who was on the water at the time, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
“As we have a person in custody, you will know there is only limited information I can give about the investigation.
“However, to avoid further speculation, I am able to tell you that it’s clear that yesterday a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and we are investigating the circumstances or event that caused that to happen.
“Early investigation indicates that there was no physical contact between a vessel and any of the swimmers at the time of the incident.
“I can also confirm there is no suggestion of people jumping from the pier or jet-skis being involved.”
Assistant Chief Constable Farrell urged people not to speculate about what happened in Bournemouth on Wednesday, adding that people should send any images to police rather than sharing on social media.
“As you can imagine, we are at the early stages of our investigation, and we would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident to both protect our inquiries and out of respect for the victims and their families.
“We are aware of a number of videos circulating on social media and we would urge people to refrain from doing this.
“We know the beach was very busy when the incident occurred. I am today urging anyone who saw what happened or has any information that may assist to please come forward.
“If anyone has relevant phone footage then they can contact Dorset Police through our major incident public portal where they can upload the images and we will share the links on social media.
“This operation is named Operation Marble. So please share the images with the police rather than on social media,” she said.
