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

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

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

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

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

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

  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.