Flowers to be laid on first anniversary of Bournemouth beach drownings

Flowers will be laid on Bournemouth beach on Friday in memory of two children who drowned a year ago.

12-year-old Sunnah Khan from High Wycombe and 17-year-old Joe Abbess from Southampton died after getting into difficulty in the sea near Bournemouth Pier on 31 May 2023.

BCP Council has set aside an area of the promenade, to the east of the pier, for people to leave floral tributes.

A previous inquest hearing in Bournemouth heard Sunnah and Joe had died of drowning amid a "suggestion" they got caught in a riptide.

The mothers of the two children are renewing their calls for better water safety education.

Speaking last year, Sunnah's mum Stephanie Williams, said: "It can be dangerous and things change very quickly in the water.

"I just think people need to be more aware and children should be taught water safety techniques in schools."

A full inquest will take place in September.

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