Police have said that the boy and girl killed at Bournemouth beach yesterday ‘didn’t come into contact with a vessel in the sea’ in a new update.
A 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl died in the incident at around 4pm yesterday.
A group, which included a number of children, had got into difficulty in the water near Bournemouth Pier.
A man in his 40s who was in the water at the time was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Police said this morning in a new statement that they are continuing to investigate the circumstances.
A spokesperson said: We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident that occurred yesterday resulting in the deaths of a 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy.
‘We are working with partner agencies to understand what has caused the tragedy.
‘However, early investigation indicates that there was no physical contact between a vessel and any swimmers at the time of the incident.
‘We are investigating the circumstances that caused a number of swimmers to get into difficulty.
‘Further information will be released as the investigation progresses.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan said: ‘Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the young people who tragically died and we are doing all we can to support their families.
‘I understand the beach was very busy at the time of the incident and I would ask anyone with information that may assist our enquiries to please come forward.
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‘We are at the early stages of our investigation and would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident.’
Dorset Police said they received a report from paramedics at around 4.30pm on Wednesday afternoon of people requiring assistance on the beach off Bournemouth Pier.
Ten people were subsequently recovered from the water but a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl had suffered critical injuries.
They were taken to hospital but later died, the force said, and their families have been informed.
The other eight people were treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.
People were told to evacuate the beach earlier and watched on in shock as the rescue took place.
Eeman Qamar, from Southampton, was on the beach with her mother and three-month-old baby at the time of the incident.
She told the BBC: The lifeguards started getting on jet skis and boats, searching the sea and about 20 minutes later the second air ambulance arrived and it took another hour-and-a-half for them to finish the whole search and rescue operation.’
Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the incident was a ‘salutary lesson’ that ‘danger is ever present’ on beaches and the ocean.
‘Thoughts with everyone associated with the dreadful events unfolding in Bournemouth this evening,’ he said.
Eeman Qamar, from Southampton, was on the beach with her mother and three-month-old baby at the time of the incident.
She told the BBC: The lifeguards started getting on jet skis and boats, searching the sea and about 20 minutes later the second air ambulance arrived and it took another hour-and-a-half for them to finish the whole search and rescue operation.’
Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the incident was a ‘salutary lesson’ that ‘danger is ever present’ on beaches and the ocean.
‘Thoughts with everyone associated with the dreadful events unfolding in Bournemouth this evening,’ he said.
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