EXCLUSIVE Boy, 17, who died in Bournemouth beach tragedy which also claimed the life of 12-year-old girl is pictured as ‘heartbroken and devastated’ family pay tribute to ‘talented’ trainee chef
- Joe Abbess, 17, a ‘talented trainee chef’ was described as a ‘fabulous young man’
- His family say they are ‘heartbroken and devastated’ by Joe’s tragic death
The teenage boy who died while swimming off Bournemouth Beach has been named by friends as Joe Abbess.
The 17-year-old was pulled from the sea after huge waves – thought to have been caused by a passing boat – caused a number of bathers to struggle in the water.
Joe, who had attended Oasis Academy in Southampton, had gone with friends to Bournemouth last Wednesday during half-term.
His family said they are ‘heartbroken and devastated’ at the loss of a ‘fabulous young man’ and ‘talented trainee chef’ who was enjoying a day at Bournemouth beach when he died.
The tragedy also claimed the life of 12-year-old Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The teenage boy who died while swimming off Bournemouth Beach has been named by friends as Joe Abbess
A second air ambulance takes off from the beach after the half-term tragedy on June 1
A friend said today: ‘He was a great lad, he was very popular.
‘He’d gone to Bournemouth with eight mates last week because it was half-term. They’d gone gone down to the beach and Joe and a few others were in the sea.
‘All of a sudden there was a commotion and people were struggling in the water.
‘Joe was brought out of the sea on to the beach and paramedics were trying to revive him but they couldn’t do anything.
‘We haven’t got the full details yet on what happened but his death has left a lot of people heartbroken.
‘His family, as you’d expect are not in a good way, and it’s hit a lot of people very hard.’
In a statement released through Dorset Police, Joe’s family said: ‘We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.
‘His family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.
‘Joe was a talented trainee chef, with a bright future ahead of him. We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry he will never fulfil his dreams and ambitions.
‘He was enjoying a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all of the emergency services who helped him, when this tragedy unfolded.’
The tragedy also claimed the life of 12-year-old Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
One of the men was pulled from the water and had to be given CPR on the beach by lifeguards before being taken away by air ambulance
Lifeguards hurried into the water by Bournemouth Pier after a group of young people got into difficulty in the sea at around 4.30pm Wednesday
A 12-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy have died after a major incident took place in the water on Bournemouth beach
Thousands of people were enjoying the sunny weather before being asked to leave the beach by police
Lifeguards hurried into the water by Bournemouth Pier after a group of young people got into difficulty in the sea at around 4.30pm Wednesday.
A further eight were treated by the ambulance service at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.
A subsequent investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion on manslaughter but later released under investigation.
More than 200 people attended Sunnah’s funeral at the Central Mosque in High Wycombe yesterday.
A friend said: ‘She will be missed by everyone, she was very popular and her death will leave a hole that will be impossible to fill.
‘She had so much more to look forward to. She was an angel.’
Mohammed Rafiq, 65, trustee at the Wycombe Islamic Mission and Mosque said: ‘What happened is tragic for the family. They are very hard-working and well respected here, this is a close-knit community.
‘There were hundreds of people who came to the funeral, the queue was overflowing.’
Two eyewitnesses at the scene of the tragedy described how paramedics attending assessed which individuals required urgent treatment.
Iona Hunter, 14, and Kaiden Andre, 15, swam into the water when they spotted a man and woman who were in difficulty, The Times reported.
One said: ‘[The lifeguard] asked if we were sure he was drowning because there were people who were actually drowning.’
Ross Hunter, Iona’s father and former lifeguard who had taught her lifesaving skills, said he was immensely proud of his daughter.
He said: ‘I feel very proud of her. I think it’s very dangerous what she did but all that being said she is a very good swimmer and I think it’s a testament to who she is.
‘No one knows how they would react in that situation but she was governed by her heart.’
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