…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Following a thorough preliminary assessment, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has determined that no boat was involved in the deaths of two young swimmers near Bournemouth pier.
The incident, which occurred on May 31, resulted in the drowning of Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, while eight others received medical attention after being caught in a riptide near the Dorset seaside resort.
Pleasure Cruiser Impounded, but No Formal Investigation by MAIB
In response to the tragic incident, Dorset Police impounded the pleasure cruiser Dorset Belle at its Poole Harbour berth.
However, the MAIB has announced that it will not launch a formal investigation into the matter.
Their statement explained that, based on their thorough preliminary assessment, the incident did not involve a vessel, and therefore falls outside the scope of their jurisdiction.
Arrest Made and Boat Operations Suspended
A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time of the incident, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later released under investigation.
Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council took the precautionary measure of suspending boat operations from the pier in response to the tragedy.
Inquest and Cause of Death
An inquest into the deaths of Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan commenced at Bournemouth Town Hall.
The initial findings revealed that both victims died of drowning after being caught in a riptide near the pier.
The coroner, Rachael Griffin, adjourned the proceedings until a further hearing in September.
No Collision or Contact with Vessel
Dorset Police confirmed that the beach was crowded at the time of the incident.
However, investigations revealed that neither the two young victims nor anyone else pulled from the sea had been involved in any collision or contact with a vessel in the water.