Beachgoers saw boy's body 'floating in water' as kids died in half-term tragedy
A mum has described how witnesses saw a boy "floating in the water" amid the horror at Bournemouth beach yesterday.
Dorset Police have confirmed a 17-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl both died after getting into trouble in the water - with a man, in his 40s, arrested for manslaughter.
As many as 10 people are understood to have been rescued as lifeguards battled to clear North Beach.
Most were treated by paramedics and their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Emergency crews gave casualties CPR while a mass evacuation was carried out.
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Air ambulances were among the emergency crews scrambled to the scene following the incident at around 4.30pm.
10 people are understood to have been rescued from the water (Max Willcock/BNPS)One witness, Ritta Saruchera, said her daughter and her friend were in the sea at the time when they saw what happened.
She said: "They were coming back out of the water when they saw a teenage boy struggling. There was another one floating in the water.
"We went to get help from the lifeguard and inform them of what was happening. There were three young men out there and they have been searching for a fourth."
The Coastguard has since confirmed it is "satisfied" no further victims were unaccounted for.
The beach was evacuated (DorsetLive/BPM)Police are yet to release the identities of the two people who died.
They have today said there was no evidence as yet of "physical contact between a vessel and any swimmers".
This is in response to speculation a jet ski, boat or surfboard may have been involved.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene at around 4.30pm, with air ambulances landing on the packed sand full of half-term revellers.
Steve Larcombe, who works on Bournemouth Pier for a boat trip company, said he wasn't sure if the youngsters were jumping off the Victorian pier or swimming under it.
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A man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter (DorsetLive/BPM)Another eyewitness, Paul Moyce, said he also thought those involved had been jumping into the sea off the pier.
Ms Saruchera went on to say: "One lifeguard went to rescue two swimmers struggling but he couldn't bring them in. He spotted another person struggling and a second lifeguard went out to them but there were multiple people in trouble.
"The remaining lifeguard was trying to get everyone out of the water.
"The ambulance service came to the struggling person rescued by the second lifeguard.
Two air ambulances were deployed (Max Willcock/BNPS)"More lifeguards arrived to rescue another swimmer near the pier.
"My husband spotted another swimmer struggling and dragged across parallel to the beach. He ran to the lifeguards. The guard immediately went in and they picked him up on a jet ski. I will never ever get the image out of my head of him being brought out.
"They cleared the beach for air ambulance. Then another was spotted and again brought to shore to be worked on. Absolutely horrible.
"Loads of idiots ignoring lifeguard requests to get out of the water and clear the beach. People were running towards those having CPR filming on their phones."
The air ambulances landed on the sand (Max Willcock/BNPS)In a statement released this morning, police added: "We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident that occurred yesterday resulting in the deaths of a 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy.
"We are working with partner agencies to understand what has caused the tragedy. However, early investigation indicates that there was no physical contact between a vessel and any swimmers at the time of the incident.
"We are investigating the circumstances that caused a number of swimmers to get into difficulty.
"Further information will be released as the investigation progresses."
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan, of Dorset Police, said yesterday: "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the young people who tragically died and we are doing all we can to support their families.
"I understand the beach was very busy at the time of the incident and I would ask anyone with information that may assist our enquiries to please come forward.
The beach was packed with those enjoying the half term sun (Max Willcock/BNPS)"We are at the early stages of our investigation and would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident."
The man arrested was on the water at the time, police said.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident will see Dorset Police work alongside the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in accordance with established protocols.
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) had said two air ambulances, as well as six land ambulances were among the emergency crews at the scene.
“We conveyed two patients to Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital," they added.
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