Bournemouth: Police provide update following beach deaths

The pair were spotted struggling in the sea near Bournemouth Pier on Tuesday lunchtime.

It led to a huge air and sea operation involving beach lifeguards, the RNLI lifeboat, two coast guard crews, a helicopter from the coast guard and police and paramedics.

The operation was abandoned, however, within an hour when it emerged the swimmers were able to make their own way back to the beach.

It is not known how old the swimmers were.

The incident happened less than a week after Sunnah Khan, aged 12, and 17-year-old Joe Abbess drowned in a suspected riptide at the same pier.

A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and has since been released under police investigation.

A 78ft pleasure cruiser, the Dorset Belle, was impounded as suggestions prop wash from the vessel could have contributed to the sea conditions.

Dorset coroner’s officer Nicola Muller said the two children drowned after a ‘sudden riptide’ in the area.

All boat operations were suspended in Bournemouth following the deaths, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said. The ban remains pending the outcome of a police investigation.

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