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| Bournemouth MP calls for police to end ‘wild speculation’ around beach deaths | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tobias Ellwood also calls for safety review after deaths of 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy | |
| An MP has called for a safety review following the deaths of two young people who got into difficulties in the sea off a crowded Bournemouth beach, and urged police to clarify the circumstances to end “wild speculation” . | An MP has called for a safety review following the deaths of two young people who got into difficulties in the sea off a crowded Bournemouth beach, and urged police to clarify the circumstances to end “wild speculation” . |
| The sightseeing boat the Dorset Belle appears to be at the centre of the investigation into Wednesday’s incident in which 10 people were rescued from the sea. | The sightseeing boat the Dorset Belle appears to be at the centre of the investigation into Wednesday’s incident in which 10 people were rescued from the sea. |
| A 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire and a 17-year-old boy from Southampton were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. The other eight were treated by paramedics at the scene. | A 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire and a 17-year-old boy from Southampton were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. The other eight were treated by paramedics at the scene. |
| A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released under investigation on Thursday while police continued their inquiries. | A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released under investigation on Thursday while police continued their inquiries. |
| The 49-year-old passenger boat Dorset Belle, which can accommodate up to 80 people, remains at anchor at Poole harbour, guarded by a police van. Dorset police have declined to comment on any investigation into the vessel, or say if any vessel was involved. | The 49-year-old passenger boat Dorset Belle, which can accommodate up to 80 people, remains at anchor at Poole harbour, guarded by a police van. Dorset police have declined to comment on any investigation into the vessel, or say if any vessel was involved. |
| According to the website Marine Traffic, the Dorset Belle had visited Bournemouth pier at 4pm, minutes before the first 999 calls were made. | According to the website Marine Traffic, the Dorset Belle had visited Bournemouth pier at 4pm, minutes before the first 999 calls were made. |
| The force has confirmed that there was no physical contact between any of the swimmers and any vessel or jet-ski, and that those involved had not been jumping off the pier. | The force has confirmed that there was no physical contact between any of the swimmers and any vessel or jet-ski, and that those involved had not been jumping off the pier. |
| Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, told PA Media: “The police are conducting their investigation. There needs to be a review of the circumstances to see whether any safety measures and protocols need to be upgraded to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. | Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, told PA Media: “The police are conducting their investigation. There needs to be a review of the circumstances to see whether any safety measures and protocols need to be upgraded to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. |
| “I encourage Dorset police to clarify the general circumstances of this tragic accident to avoid further wild speculation and uncertainty for parents who may be cautious about going to any part of the beach, unclear of exactly what happened in this terrible incident.” | “I encourage Dorset police to clarify the general circumstances of this tragic accident to avoid further wild speculation and uncertainty for parents who may be cautious about going to any part of the beach, unclear of exactly what happened in this terrible incident.” |
| Some witnesses have suggested swimmers got caught up in a dangerous riptide. | Some witnesses have suggested swimmers got caught up in a dangerous riptide. |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council’s leader, Vikki Slade, said she would be discussing safety at the pier with local MP Conor Burns on Friday. | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council’s leader, Vikki Slade, said she would be discussing safety at the pier with local MP Conor Burns on Friday. |
| The local authority’s website states that all passenger-carrying boats must be issued with a licence to operate in the area. It also states that from April to October, yellow marker buoys are set out 200 metres from the low water mark to indicate that watercraft must not “go beyond 6 knots, annoy or endanger other beach users or run ashore or launch from the beach”. | The local authority’s website states that all passenger-carrying boats must be issued with a licence to operate in the area. It also states that from April to October, yellow marker buoys are set out 200 metres from the low water mark to indicate that watercraft must not “go beyond 6 knots, annoy or endanger other beach users or run ashore or launch from the beach”. |
| The nearby Boscombe artificial reef has the speed limit all year round. | The nearby Boscombe artificial reef has the speed limit all year round. |
| Slade said: “There is no evidence to suggest any of those rules have been breached. We are confident with our partners that any lessons that need to be learned in the future will be learned.” | Slade said: “There is no evidence to suggest any of those rules have been breached. We are confident with our partners that any lessons that need to be learned in the future will be learned.” |
| Dorset police said they were working with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to investigate the incident. | Dorset police said they were working with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to investigate the incident. |