2023 Bournemouth beach incident

2023 Bournemouth beach incident
The Dorset Belle (left) and the Bournemouth Belle (right) moored in 2009
Date31 May 2023
LocationBournemouth, England
Coordinates50°42′58″N 1°52′32″W / 50.716132°N 1.875442°W / 50.716132; -1.875442
Deaths2
Non-fatal injuries8

On 31 May 2023, two people died and eight others were injured on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but following an investigation, police determined that no criminal offence had been committed in relation to the incident.

Background

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Bournemouth is one of the most popular beaches in the United Kingdom.[1] On 25 June 2020 during COVID-19 lockdown, a major incident was declared after half a million people descended on the beach.[2] In 2021, it was ranked the 5th best in Europe and among the top 25 in the world.[3]

Incident

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At 4.07pm on 31 May 2023, emergency services were called to Bournemouth beach.[4] 10 people were rescued from the water.[5] Onlookers gave CPR to the victims.[6] A 17-year-old-boy from Southampton and a 12 year-girl from High Wycombe were pronounced dead at hospital.[7] The boy was transported to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the girl was taken to Poole Hospital.[8]

The victims were not related.[9] Reports were made of a "rip tide".[10] Witnesses were urged not to share graphic footage of the incident online.[11] This was after reports of TikToks being filmed near the scene. The day following the beach continued to be packed full.[12]

Dorset Police said that no physical contact was made between the swimmers and any vessel or jet-ski and those involved had not been jumping off the pier.[13] Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell thanked members of the public who helped people in trouble in the water.[14]

It was described as "one of the worst British seaside incidents in recent history".[15] The victims were named on 4 June.[16]

Dorset Belle pleasure boat

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The pleasure boat the Dorset Belle was later impounded at Cobb's Quay in Poole Harbour.[17] The boat was put under police cordon.[18] The boat had reportedly not been on the water all week due to bad weather.[19] The vessel is a passenger boat built in Poole by J. Bolson in 1974. Operations moved to Cardiff Bay in 2002, before returning to serve Bournemouth Pier in 2021.[20] It was the first purpose built steel passenger boat to operate locally.[20] The Dorset Police said the impounding was "just one of several lines of inquiry.[21] On 23 June, the boat operator permanently ceased operations.[22] On 28 June it was reported that the boat had been sold.[23]

Investigation

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A man in his 40s, who Dorset police said "was on the water" at the time of the incident, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later released under investigation.[24] The incident is being investigated by Dorset Police's Maritime Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.[25] On 2 June it was revealed that the Dorset Belle had returned to Bournemouth Pier at 4.40pm and 5.03pm.[20]

On 5 June 2023, an inquest at Dorset Coroner's Court was told there was a "suggestion" that a riptide may have led to the drownings.[21] Dorset Police said it was keeping an "open mind" about the circumstances that led to the deaths.[21]

On 6 June 2023, all boat operations to and from Bournemouth Pier were suspended pending the conclusion of the police investigation.[26] Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick defended the work of his force investigating the “complex” incident.[27]

On 27 June 2023, investigators said that no boat was involved in the incident. The Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) said it would now not be pursuing any further inquiries.[28]

On 14 July, Dorset Police announced that no criminal offences had been committed in relation to the incident.[29]

In 2024, an inquest into the two deaths ruled them as accidental, and indicated that they had been caused by a rip tide. The coroner stated she was satisfied that no further measures would have prevented the deaths following an "unexpected anomaly of nature," and praised the actions of lifeguards.[30]

Reaction

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Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, called on Dorset Police to give out more information for clarity.[31] Vikki Slade, the Liberal Democrat Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council who had been elected on 24 May 2023,[32] said she would be discussing safety at the pier with Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns on 2 June.[33][34] Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will be assessing safety in the water near the pier.[35]

References

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  1. ^ Paz, Sue (26 February 2018). "Bournemouth is voted UK's best beach, but why?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ Goldman, Andrew (25 June 2021). "One year on: when major incident was declared on Bournemouth beach". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Rachael (23 February 2021). "Bournemouth beach ranks 5th best in Europe and among the top 25 in the world". Sky News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  4. ^ Cartlidge, Sarah (1 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach incident: what we know after two children die and man arrested". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  5. ^ Browning, Oliver (1 June 2023), "Witness describes 'panic' on Bournemouth beach after two children die in sea tragedy", The Independent, retrieved 20 July 2023
  6. ^ Fiorillo, Chiara (1 June 2023). "Hero who pulled girl from sea at Bournemouth beach makes heartbreaking admission". mirror. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ^ Ali, Ayaan (2 June 2023). "Boat impounded as investigation continues into Bournemouth beach deaths". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. ^ Soteriou, Emma (5 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths of girl, 12, and boy, 17, were due to drowning, inquest hears". LBC. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  9. ^ Zakir-Hussain, Maryam; Mathers, Matt; Mata, William (2 June 2023). "Police guard boat for second day as passenger recalls body pulled from water". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  10. ^ Liddell, Emily (1 June 2023). "Beach tragedy survivor, 18, from Southampton 'was stuck in riptide', says dad". Daily Echo. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  11. ^ George, Maya (1 June 2023). "Doctor hits out as graphic footage of beach incident is shared online". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  12. ^ Browning, Oliver (1 June 2023), "Bournemouth beach packed day after two children die in sea tragedy", The Independent, retrieved 2 June 2023
  13. ^ Zakir-Hussain, Maryam (2 June 2023). "Everything we know about impounded boat after Bournemouth beach deaths". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  14. ^ Zaccaro, Maria; Wilkinson, Helena (1 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach death swimmers not hit by boat or jet ski". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  15. ^ Bird, Steve; Bolton, Will; Somerville, Ewan (1 June 2023). "Pleasure boat at centre of police investigation into Bournemouth beach tragedy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  16. ^ Mohdin, Aamna (4 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths: victims named as Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Pleasure boat impounded by police following deaths at Bournemouth beach, ITV News understands". ITV News. 2 June 2023.
  18. ^ Parsley, David (1 June 2023). "Pleasure cruiser that sailed close to Bournemouth pier probed by police over deaths". i. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  19. ^ Kindred, Alahna (2 June 2023). "Dad 'surprised boat trip went ahead' on day of Bournemouth tragedy - latest". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  20. ^ a b c Goldman, Andrew (3 June 2023). "Seized pleasure boat returned to pier twice during major beach incident". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Almroth-Wright, Indy (5 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths: Riptide may have led to drownings - inquest". BBC News. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  22. ^ White, Debbie (23 June 2023). "Dorset Belle operator ends boat trips from Bournemouth after tragedy". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Bournemouth beach: Held boat sold after suspected riptide deaths". BBC News. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  24. ^ Chantler-Hicks, Lydia; France, Anthony (1 June 2023). "Man arrested over Bournemouth tragedy released under investigation". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  25. ^ Ford, Emily (2 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths: Police presence at cruiser". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  26. ^ Couzens, Jo (6 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach boat operations suspended after deaths". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  27. ^ Robson, Steve (5 June 2023). "Everything we know about Bournemouth beach deaths after families pay tribute to victims". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  28. ^ White, Marcus (27 June 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths: No boat involved, investigators say". BBC News. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  29. ^ Stafford, Stephen (14 July 2023). "Bournemouth beach deaths: No police action to be taken". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Bournemouth Beach deaths ruled as accidental by coroner". BBC News. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  31. ^ Simone, Carlo (2 June 2023). "MP wants more information released on beach tragedy". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  32. ^ Almroth-Wright, Indy (24 May 2023). "BCP council to be run by coalition led by Lib Dem Vikki Slade". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  33. ^ Davies, Caroline (2 June 2023). "Bournemouth MP calls for police to end 'wild speculation' around beach deaths". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  34. ^ Mathers, Matt (2 June 2023). "What happened at Bournemouth beach? Everything we know about incident". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  35. ^ "UK beach victims 'hadn't jumped or been hit by jet ski'". RTE. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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