Boy, 17, and girl, 12, die following incident off Bournemouth beach
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Dorset Police have confirmed that two children who died after sustaining “critical injuries” at Bournemouth beach yesterday were not related.
In a press briefing, assistant chief constable Rachel Farrell said a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire and a 17-year-old boy from Southampton lost their lives after being pulled from the sea.
Eight other people were rescued from the sea but did not have serious injuries and were treated by ambulance on scene, she said.
“I would sincerely like to thank members of the public who helped people in trouble in the water.
“I’m also very grateful to the wider beach-goers who really quickly moved from the beach and allowed emergency services to do their work,” she said.
One man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Police also confirmed there was “no physical contact” between a vessel and any swimmers at Bournemouth beach yesterday, and added that there is “no suggestion of people jumping from the pier or jet skis being involved”.
BREAKING: Police say no jet skis or pier jumpers involved in Bournemouth beach tragedy
The deceased - a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl - suffered “critical injuries” and died after being pulled from the sea.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said there is “no suggestion” of people jumping from Bournemouth pier or of jet skis being involved in the incident.
Dorset Police earlier confirmed that there was “no physical contact” between a vessel and the swimmers.
Dorset Police have said there were no jet skis or pier jumping involved in the deaths of two children at Bournemouth Beach.
Police say there ‘no physical contact’ between vessel and swimmers at Bournemouth beach
Police say there 'no physical contact' between vessel and swimmers at Bournemouth beach
‘It is horrendous'
The Independent’s Tara Cobham is reporting from Bournemouth and talking to locals about the tragic incident.
“We couldn’t really tell what was going on. Then they closed everything off so people couldn’t be on the bit of the beach. It is horrendous.
“My friends at Street Kings (a food van) said they saw bodies.”
A bunch of flowers left on Bournemouth beach for a 17-year-old-boy and a girl aged 12 who sustained "critical injuries" on Wednesday
(PA)
10 rescued from the water, police say
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said a total of 10 people were rescued from the water in Bournemouth on Wednesday.
“A 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire were taken to hospital where very sadly they later died,” she said.
The other eight people involved were treated by ambulance at the scene, she added.
“I would sincerely like to thank members of the public who helped people in trouble in the water.
“I’m also very grateful to the wider beach-goers who really quickly moved from the beach and allowed emergency services to do their work,” she said.
Bournemouth councillor says incident ‘must have been terrifying experience'
Councillor Vikki Slade said: “It must have been a really terrifying experience for everybody.
“We are grateful to the public for clearing the space so quickly.
“Bournemouth remains a really fantastic place to visit and this incident needs to be investigated properly.”
Two children who died were not related, police say
Dorset Police has said that the children who died yesterday were not related.
The other eight people who were rescued from the water did not have serious injuries.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident has been launched, Dorset Police said.
They added that a man aged in his 40s who was on the water at the time has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Dorset Police said that “a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and we are investigating the circumstances or event that caused this to happen”.
‘No suggestion of people jumping from the pier or jet skis involved'
Dorset Police have confirmed that there is “no suggestion of people jumping from the pier or jet skis being involved.”
A 17-year-old from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire lost their lives yesterday on Bournemouth beach, Dorset Police have said.