Boat operations from Bournemouth Pier have been suspended until police complete the investigation into the deaths of two children.
BCP Council said it had taken the decision as a “precaution”.
Sunnah Khan, 12 and from High Wycombe, and Joe Abbess, 17 and from Southampton, died in hospitals following the incident off the beach on Wednesday, May 31.
At the opening of the inquest into Sunnah and Joe's deaths, senior coroner for Dorset Rachael Griffin was told there were suggestions swimmers had been “caught up in a riptide”.
A post-mortem examination provided provisional causes of death as drowning, the inquest on Monday, June 5, heard.
Mrs Griffin said it was important people did not speculate in relation to the circumstances of their deaths and police were allowed to continue their investigation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 6, a BCP Council spokesperson said: “All boat operations from the pier have been suspended as a precaution, pending a conclusion to the police investigation.
“We are aware the investigation is complex and will consult with Dorset Police when the investigation is complete.”
Dorset Police have said there were “several lines of enquiry” as part of their investigation as the force sought to address “significant speculation” concerning a pleasure boat, which was in the area at the time of the incident.
Late last week the Dorset Belle was seized by police at Cobb’s Quay Marina in Poole. Officers were no longer at the boat on Saturday, June 3.
There was no collision or contact between anyone pulled from the sea at the time of the incident and any vessel in the water, police said.
A force spokesperson said the investigation was looking at all circumstances of the incident including weather, wind conditions and the state of the water at the time.
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan said: “We continue to keep an open mind around the circumstances that have led to the tragic death of two young people in the water off the beach.
“Our thoughts remain with the families of those young people.”
A man in his 40s arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on Wednesday, May 31, was released under investigation in connection with the incident.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel