Coroner rules out cruise ship involvement in Bournemouth drowning deaths

A coroner has ruled that a cruise ship was not the “cause or cause” of the deaths of two young people who drowned off a Bournemouth beach last year.

Joe Abbess, 17, and 12-year-old Sunnah Khan were presumed dead caught in a reverse current next to the pier in the Dorset seaside resort on May 31, while eight other people were treated by paramedics.

The Dorset Belle, a cruise ship operating from Bournemouth Harbour, was stopped and a man in his 40s he was arrested on charges of murder in connection with the deaths of the victims.

However, following consultation with an expert, Dorset Police concluded that the boat’s movement did not contribute to the dangerous sea conditions and said the man arrested would not face any further charges.

Coroner Rachael Griffin found Dorset Belle had no involvement in their deaths.

“It would be speculative to link this boat to the deaths, but it is also important that the evidence may contain references to earlier incidents,” she told a pre-inquiry review.

“There is no evidence that the boat has been involved in previous incidents, again it is speculation that it has been.”

On behalf of Sunnah’s family, Dr Anton Van Dellen told the hearing his client was “very grateful” to the South West Ambulance Service for the efforts made to save their daughter’s life.

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Harriet Short, representing Joe’s family, delivered a similar message.

“Mrs Abbess would like to publicly express her gratitude to the emergency services, South West Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance and RNLI, who assisted her son on that tragic day,” she said.

During the previous hearing it was determined that the deaths of the two teenagers were caused by reverse current.

A full investigation into their deaths is due to begin on Tuesday.