Bournemouth beach incident news: Father of sea tragedy survivor says daughter taken out by ‘rip tide’

The father of a survivor of Wednesday’s tragic incident has said his daughter was taken out by a “rip tide”.

Lauren Tate, 18, was treating in hospital for a short period of time and is now recovering at home.

Her father told the Mail Online: “We’ve seen all the stuff about boats and jet skis but it wasn’t like that. She was swimming in the sea with her friends when the rip tide took them out.”

The 18-year-old was pulled from the sea by a coastguard.

Mystery still surrounds the events that saw a 17 year-old-boy and a 12 year-girl lose their lives – but Bournemouth beach was as busy as ever. Tara Cobham reports:

A lone bunch of flowers among the countless holidaymakers serves as a reminder of the tragic event that took place less than 24 hours ago.

The sun beats down on Bournemouth as children delight in digging sandcastles around the pink roses, sunbathing parents watch on, and the sounds of teenagers laughing and playing music waft on the breeze.

Survivor Lauren Tate, 18, one of eight others who were injured, was treated in hospital and is now continuing to recover at home, after a rip tide took her and her friends out to sea when they were swimming by the pier, according to her father.

“She was lucky to get pulled from the sea by the coastguard and one of her other friends was rescued by a paddleboarder.

“I know the boy who died was at college with her, but I don’t know anything about him. All she told me is that they all met up on the train and headed to Bournemouth beach for the day.”

Police have searched a pleasure boat as part of the investigation into the deaths of two children who sustained “critical injuries” at Bournemouth beach on Wednesday.

A 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from High Wycombe lost their lives after being pulled from the sea in front of horrified beachgoers on Wednesday afternoon.

A man in his forties, who was “on the water” at the time but not known to the children, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, police said. He was released under investigation on Thursday evening.

Eight other children, who had minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene, were also rescued. It is not thought the group all knew each other.

The deceased – a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl – sustained “critical injuries” and died after being pulled from the sea.

People at the scene have hit out at those who filmed emergency services.

Nicola Holton, who was at the beach with her husband, said she witnessed lifeguards entering the sea trying to help “multiple people” who were struggling in the water.

Eyewitnesses described a tragedy on Bournemouth beach that left two children dead as “like a horror movie”.

A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy suffered “critical” injuries in a fatal incident that occurred next to Bournemouth Pier on Wednesday afternoon.

Police arrested a man in his 40s who was “on the water” at the time on suspicion of manslaughter and investigations to establish exactly what happened are ongoing.

Read more from Matt Mathers here:

A pleasure boat has been cordoned off by the police investigating the deaths of two children who sustained “critical injuries” at Bournemouth beach.

Forensic officers were seen onboard the Dorset Belle which is docked at a harbour in Poole.

“This vessel is under a police cordon. No one is permitted onboard or to touch the vessel,” police sources told The Sun

Tributes poured in for the two children who died just hours before following a dramatic rescue effort.

Bill Jackson, 66, told Daily Echo that it “so sad” that it had happened in Bournemouth.“It’s a great town, it’s a lovely town,” he said.

“My grandson’s at that age so it’s scary, it’s absolutely devastating.”

“[It’s] absolutely tragic,” said 44-year-old Lee Parkinson.

“I’m not sure about the details but we got news that there was a couple of air ambulances and that an area of the beach had been closed off.

“I woke up this morning and found out that two people had sadly passed away, it’s really sad.”

Footage shows Bournemouth beach packed yesterday, less than 24 hours after a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl died after getting into difficulty in the sea.

Emergency services attended the scene on Wednesday afternoon, where eight other people were also recovered from the water.

With temperatures reaching close to 20C, hundreds of people were seen relaxing on the sand and playing in the sea.