Major emergency at Bournemouth after two people get in difficulty in water at same spot girl, 12, and boy, 17 drowned
A MAJOR emergency response was launched after two people got into difficulty in the sea at the exact spot where two kids drowned.
Two people were seen apparently struggling in the water to the east of Bournemouth Pier at 12.25pm yesterday.
It prompted a huge air and sea operation involving beach lifeguards, an RNLI lifeboat, two coastguard crews, a coastguard helicopter, police officers and ambulance paramedics.
A search of the water swung into action to find the potential casualties.
The operation was called off at 1.15pm when it emerged the two male swimmers had been able to make their own way back on to the beach.
It is not known if they were adults or children.
The incident happened six days after Sunnah Khan, 12, and trainee chef Joe Abbess, 17, drowned in a suspected riptide to the east of Bournemouth Pier.
Their deaths have sparked a major police investigation which has seen a man aged in his 40s and who was ‘on the water’ at the time to be arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
The 78ft pleasure cruiser, the Dorset Belle, has also been impounded amid suggestions prop wash from it could have contributed to the dangerous sea conditions.
In the aftermath of the tragedy parents told of their concerns over whether to allow their children to swim in the sea by Bournemouth Pier.
The local MP, Tobias Ellwood, has criticised Dorset Police for failing to provide a clarity on the tragedy and help reassure the public that the sea is safe.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said of the latest incident: “We responded to reports of two people in difficulties in the water at Bournemouth beach yesterday.
“The alarm was raised at around 12.25pm and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter was sent from Lee-on-the-Solent.
“The response included the coastguard rescue teams from Southbourne and Poole, the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Mudeford, Poole Bay lifeguards, Dorset Police and the South Western Ambulance Service.
“The two people were able to make their own way to the shore.”
A spokesperson for Dorset police said: “We received a report at 12.39pm yesterday relating to two people believed to be in difficulty in the water near to Bournemouth Pier.
“Officers attended to assist the coastguard, who were leading on the incident.
“A further report was received at 1.15pm that the individuals had been accounted for and were safe and well.”