Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, died of drowning following “suggestion” they got caught in a riptide off Bournemouth beach, an inquest opening at Bournemouth has heard.
Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton, and Sunnah Khan, 12, from Buckinghamshire, were rescued from the sea during the incident on Wednesday, but both died in hospital. In a hearing to open the inquest proceedings at Bournemouth Town Hall, Dorset coroner’s officer Nicola Muller said that post mortem examinations carried out by Home Office pathologist Basil Purdue showed the cause of their deaths was drowning.
She said that Joe, a trainee chef, was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was pronounced dead, and Sunnah was taken to Poole General Hospital. She said that Joe was identified by Detective Constable Hannah Webster by a photograph provided by his family, and Sunnah was identified by her father at the hospital.
Describing the incident, Ms 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 understand there is an ongoing police investigation, despite that, I have already submitted the appropriate paperwork and released both Joe’s and Sunnah’s bodies for the purposes of their funerals.
“In relation to that ongoing police investigation, I am unable to make any progress in my inquiries. It’s very important people do not speculate on the circumstances surrounding Joe and Sunnah’s deaths and allow the police investigation to proceed, which will allow my investigation to proceed.
“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to Joe and Sunnah’s families, my thoughts are very much with them at this difficult time following this tragedy. My thoughts are also with those who attended or witnessed the traumatic events.”
She added: “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.
The update came as a local MP criticised Dorset Police for failing to properly communicate with the public about the circumstances that led to the death of two youngsters who got into difficulty in the water off Bournemouth beach.
Joe Abbess, a 17-year-old boy from Southampton, and Sunnah Khan, a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire, were rescued from the sea during the incident on Wednesday, but both died later in hospital. An inquest into both deaths is anticipated to be opened on Monday subject to confirmation by HM Coroner.
Sunnah's mother Stephanie Williams spoke of her heartbreak on Twitter and shared a picture of her daughter Sunnah Khan. She said: "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."
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood earlier expressed concern about a lack of clarity from local officers about the incident, which he said had led to “wild speculation on social media”. “We do need to understand, learn lessons from this, provide clarity early on – just so people can have an assurance of mind as to what roughly happened,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The Bournemouth East MP said: “Certainly anybody would not want to impede or prejudice the investigation. “But if the absence of any comprehensive statement becomes standard, I can see who, speaking on a wider picture and security level… those who wish us harm could leverage the void by misleading messaging.”
But David Sidwick, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, defended the police’s handling of the “complex” case.
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. 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 of the tragedy off Bournemouth Pier. The force has said the investigation is looking at all circumstances of the incident, including weather, wind conditions and the state of the water at the time.
Mr Sidwick, appearing on the Today programme, said that officers were working with a number of other agencies as they continue to try to work out what happened. He 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. And I truly believe that they need to be given the time and space to do that fully, thoroughly, professionally and without hindrance.”
He suggested that while there would be a review of police communication “at the end of all this”, Dorset police had “moved to rule out those things which they could rule out when they had enough evidence to be able to do that”.
“What they can’t do is say what exactly happened and they shouldn’t because the veracity of any statement made by those investigating this incident must be beyond reproach,” Mr Sidwick added. “And not just for any legal situation, but also because it is, to remind everyone – the victims and their families’ needs are paramount.”
