"Heartbreaking" decision to sell boat after beach tragedy
The owner of the Dorset Belle said bills had been mounting up
Last updated 28th Jun 2023
A sightseeing boat impounded by police after the deaths of two children who got into trouble in the sea off Bournemouth has been sold.
The company that ran the Dorset Belle said it had made the "heartbreaking" decision to avoid liquidation after bills began to mount up.
Marine accident investigators revealed on Tuesday that they did not believe a vessel was involved in the tragedy.
17-year-old Joe Abbess from Southampton and 12-year-old Sunnah Khan from Buckinghamshire died on 31 May.
In a statement posted on the Dorset Belle's Facebook page, its owner said: "Unfortunately due to the circumstances currently surrounding the Dorset Belle, the only option available to Island Cruises is to sell her to avoid liquidation of the company.
"The bills have been mounting up and need to be paid, the lack of money due to the vessel not operating has been a major factor in this heartbreaking decision.
"We have owned her for almost 5 years, made it through Covid and the recession but the last few weeks have been too much financially and mentally with lots of sleepless nights.
"I have searched for a solution to keep her operating from Bournemouth but have drawn a blank.
"She was handed over to her new owners this afternoon (Tuesday), she will be deeply missed by us all.
"On a positive note, her new owners are already spending time on her to get her ready for the remainder of the summer, we all wish them the very best for the future."
An inquest earlier this month heard that the two children died from drowning after a "suggestion" that they got caught in a riptide in the sea off Bournemouth beach.
Dorset Police are continuing to investigate the incident and the force said the circumstances would "take time to establish".