Bournemouth beach: Heart-broken family pay tribute to tragic girl, 12, killed in tragedy who ‘showed what love is’
HEARTBREAKING tributes have been paid to a “perfect” schoolgirl who was killed while swimming by Bournemouth Pier.
The 12-year-old from Bedfordshire died along with a 17-year-old boy during horrors on East Beach at around 4.30pm Wednesday
A man in his 40s – who was “on the water” at the time – was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but has since been released under investigation.
The young girl has been remembered as a popular youngster whose life was tragically cut short.
A relative paid tribute, saying: “She was the best cousin in the world and was like my sister.
“You showed me what love is, you’re my sister, always remember that you will go to heaven.”
One friend wrote online: “You were perfect, everyone loved you and everyone there for you, you didn’t deserve what happened to you.
“You were just so young and so much more to live for.”
Another added: “You will be missed tons thanks for backing me.
“I will always look up to you as my sister and I will always love you.”
Pink flowers were left on the beach beside the pier yesterday by a tearful passerby.
On Wednesday a swimmer, 18, spotted the 12-year-old floating in the sea and helped recover her to the beach where she was given CPR.
The lifeless body of the 17-year-old boy was then spotted washed up close to the shoreline and lifeguards and medics tried to save him.
They were both airlifted to hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
RNLI lifeguards rushed into the sea to rescue eight other children who were at risk of being swept away by strong undercurrent.
It comes after it was revealed the boy was reportedly on a day trip with a college pal when he was killed.
Earlier on social media there had been speculation the swimmers had jumped off Bournemouth pier and had been struck by a jet-ski.
However, in a press conference at the beach this afternoon Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell ruled out the theory.
But cops were yesterday seen guarding the Dorset Belle boat at a harbour in nearby Poole.
Two forensics officers were also pictured on the vessel, which operates a popular excursion tour at Dorset’s pier.
It comes after it emerged cops were probing whether the wash from a boat could have caused the tragic kids to get into difficulty.
MP Conor Burns said he understood that a “surface vessel” was in the sea around Bournemouth Pier at the time of the horror.
He said: “It would seem not a far reach to draw a conclusion that while the vessel may not have physically touched the young people perhaps it created the conditions which made being in the water more dangerous by the speed it was going.”
Eyewitness Michaela Robinson Grant was enjoying a drink at a bar on the pier when she saw lifeguards battling to save swimmers.
She told The Sun: “My friend and I were sat on the balcony when we saw a lifeguard running towards a crowd of people, this turned out to be the girl who was rescued from the sea.
“They got rid of the crowd and we could see a lifeguard give her CPR. This lasted about 10 minutes before the whole section of the beach was evacuated.
“An ambulance arrived shortly after and took over and got the defibrillator out.
“Once the first air ambulance arrived, we saw a young man run into the sea and pulled someone’s arm out, so he got the lifeguard’s attention and they rushed over to retrieve him.
“The second body was completely lifeless – it was honestly so scary – my friend and I were crying as it was traumatic to witness.
“They started CPR and the emergency services got their equipment out to try and resuscitate him.”
Local residents last night said that strong tides are common at the end of the pier and they had personally experienced difficulties while swimming there.
Signs spotted at the end of the pier read “no swimming, diving or fishing”.
A Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) spokesman said: “We would like to offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of the two young people who sadly lost their lives yesterday at Bournemouth beach.
“RNLI lifeguards along with volunteer lifeboat crews from RNLI Mudeford worked with emergency services to provide search and rescue, and casualty care.
“This incident is now in the hands of Dorset Police and we will not offer any further comment at this point.”
