‘I feel comforted’ - Grandmother of girl who drowned at Bournemouth speaks after memorial service
The service was held at St Nicholas Church in Hengistbury Head where tributes were paid to Sunnah Khan and Joe Abbess
Last updated 10th Jul 2023
A memorial service has been held for two children who drowned after getting into difficulty in the sea near Bournemouth Pier.
Sunnah Khan, 12, from High Wycombe and Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton died on 31 May.
Representatives from the RNLI, Dorset Police and HM Coastguard paid their respects and gave heartfelt speeches to loved ones at St Nicholas Church near Hengistbury Head on Sunday.
A tribute to emergency responders was made by the grandmother of Sunnah Khan, Susan Green.
She said: “We just really wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped Sunnah on the day. We really appreciate all the help and we know that people fought really hard to save her.”
A tearful Ms Green told us she was ‘moved’ by the memorial service.
She said: “The service has just meant so much to us, it's certainly brought me comfort. It's been really lovely just to see everyone and hear from all the emergency services and hear that she's been remembered in this really special way.”
Reverend Chris Colledge said: “We want to surround the family with all our thoughts and love, but no words can express the pain and sorrow that you must feel.”
Sunday’s service was not about religion, it was about showing respect while being especially mindful of the recent major incident on Bournemouth beach.
The Lord Lieutenant for Dorset, Angus Campbell said: “We also have to remember the eight people who were really frightened and possibly suffered in that incident as well.”
Ms Green added: “We know how much of an impact this would have had on those that were there that day, so we want to thank them because we know that they would have taken the tragedy of what happened home with them.”