Bournemouth victim Sunnah Khan, 12, seen laughing on beach hours before tragedy – as second boy Joe Abbess is named
THIS is the last photo of a schoolgirl who died in a tragedy on Bournemouth beach.
Sunnah Khan, 12, was swimming with her brother and sister close to the town’s pier on a family holiday with their dad when she was pulled under the water by a giant wave.
She was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition alongside beachgoer Joe Abbess, 17, but they sadly could not be saved.
A photo shared by a heartbroken family member shows carefree Sunnah enjoying a day at the beach with her brother, 13, before she was killed.
The youngster, described as “lovely” and “popular” by those who knew her, was seen smiling next to her sibling who she buried in the sand on their day out.
She was enjoying the sun on one of the hottest days of the year after travelling from her home in High Wycombe, Bucks, during half term.
But just hours later Sunnah was among a group of 10 swimmers who were overcome by a wave.
A relative said: “Sunnah was lovely, everybody loved her. She was very well-liked and it’s just really difficult to accept.
“This can’t be allowed to happen to anyone else. Safety measures must be improved.”
The tragic last photo shows Sunnah smiling while sitting on the sand wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.
Tributes have been pouring in for the “angel” schoolgirl who was remembered as a popular young student who had a bright future ahead of her.
A family friend said: “She will be missed by everyone, she was very popular and her death will leave a hole that will be impossible to fill.
“She had so much more to look forward to. She was an angel.”
Questions remain over the role of a man in his 40s who was “on the water” of the time of the tragedy before he was arrested and released.
SECOND VICTIM
Joe, 17, of Southampton, Hants, also lost his life in the tragedy, which left eight more youngsters in need of medical help.
The teen is being remembered as a “fabulous young man”.
His family today said: “We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.
“His family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.
“Joe was a talented trainee chef, with a bright future ahead of him. We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry he will never fulfil his dreams and ambitions.
“He was enjoying a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all of the emergency services who helped him, when this tragedy unfolded.”
Cops continued to search a 78ft tour boat, the Dorset Belle, today over suspicions it caused the waves which overcame the children.
The boat visited Bournemouth Pier minutes before the first 999 calls were made, according to boat tracker site Marine Traffic.
EMOTIONAL GOODBYE
More than 200 friends and family gathered at Sunnah’s funeral on Saturday at the Central Mosque in High Wycombe.
Mohammed Rafiq, 65, a trustee at the Wycombe Islamic Mission and Mosque, said people travelled from towns across the region to pay their respects to Sunnah.
He told The Sun: “What happened is tragic for the family. They are very hard-working and well respected here, this is a close-knit community.
“There were hundreds of people who came to the funeral, the queue was overflowing.”
One of her family members said: “She was an absolute force of nature, liked by all and loved by so many.
“She will be so sorely missed by her parents, siblings and friends.
“There are no words to describe the hole she has left in all of our hearts but we will remember her every day for the rest of our lives.”
MORE IN TROUBLE
It emerged on Sunday that more heroic teenagers battled to save lives after hearing beachgoers’ screams.
Brave Kaiden Andre, 15, of Basingstoke, Hants, was swimming with pals when he heard the cries of a man shouting for help.
He tried to drag a man and woman to the shore before guiding the pair to safety with his friend Iona, who is a strong swimmer.
His mum Jody said: “Kaiden said to me he has never known the sea to be that choppy.
“When I saw my child get off the train back home, knowing that someone had lost their child, I cannot tell you how that felt.
“His instinct was just to help but it really did scare him. We can’t believe the bravery that he showed.”
Iona told the Sunday Times: “The lifeguard asked us if we were sure he was drowning because there were people actually drowning.”
Iona and Kaiden were throwing a ball on the sand when they heard a younger child crying for help.
Iona said: “He was splashing around. One of my friends helped him to safety, but then we realised there were two other people, a man and a woman, struggling even further out.”
The couple in danger were 18 and didn’t know the victims of the tragedy, they added.
Iona said the man had “inhaled loads of water” and was heavy as they propped him up and brought him to shore.
Kaiden added that the current was “very strong”.
They said it was around 15 minutes before a lifeguard on a surfboard swam out to them after Iona raised her arm to get attention.
“The lifeguard got him on a surfboard and he was alright in the end,” Iona added.
She said she saw a boat out to sea “on the horizon” but nothing closer to the swimmers.
Iona’s dad Ross Hunter, a former lifeguard who taught Iona lifesaving skills, said he was proud of his daughter.