Mother of schoolgirl, 12, who drowned off Bournemouth beach reveals terrifying moment a wave swept over her daughter as she started screaming for help
- Sunnah Khan died after being pulled under the water by a riptide on May 31
- Joe Abbess, 17, also perished in the tragedy in front of hundreds of beachgoers
The mother of a schoolgirl who drowned off Bournemouth beach today revealed the terrifying moment a wave swept over her daughter as she started screaming for help.
Sunnah Khan, 12, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died after being pulled under the water by a riptide close to the shore near the pier in Dorset on May 31.
She and Joe Abbess, 17, were pulled from the water and medics desperately tried to resuscitate them on the sand, but both sadly died.
Sunnah’s mother, Stephanie Williams, today recalled her daughter’s tragic final moments in an interview with Good Morning Britain.
She said: ‘They [Sunnah and her brother] were in between the flags on the beach. They then ended up where they couldn’t touch the bottom.
Sunnah Khan’s mother, Stephanie Williams, has revealed the terrifying moment a wave swept over her daughter as she started screaming for help
Ms Williams paid tribute to her daughter, who she described as a sociable girl who loved spending time with friends and family
Since the tragedy last month, Ms Williams has spoken out to warn people of the dangers of riptides to try and help other families avoid suffering similar heartbreak
‘They said a wave came over. They started to shout for help.
What is a riptide?
Rip tides, more accurately known as rip currents and also known as simply ‘rips’, are fast-moving channels of water that move away from the shore and towards the open sea.
They can reach speeds of up to five miles per hour – faster than an Olympic swimmer – making them a leading surf hazard for all beachgoers.
The National Weather Service explains: ‘Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach.
‘One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow stream of water moving swiftly away from shore, often perpendicular to the shoreline.’
The more accurate term for riptides is simply a ‘rip currents’.
‘A lifeguard pulled my son from the water but they were unable to locate Sunnah. She was washed out.
‘They had started to try and make their way back but they couldn’t.’
Since the tragedy last month, Ms Williams has spoken out to warn people of the dangers of riptides to try and help other families avoid suffering similar heartbreak.
‘It’s really important for people to know the dangers of what can happen in the sea, even in shallow water.
‘It’s important to know what to do should you find yourself in trouble in the water and having some information that’s viewable when you’re on the beach.’
Earlier this month, she paid tribute to her daughter, who she described as a sociable girl who loved spending time with friends and family.
‘She was a lovely toddler and a lovely young child at all stages of her life, and she would have become a lovely woman.
‘She cared about a lot of people, and it’s such a shame that she’s not going to become the young lady that I thought she would be.’
Her comments come as a maritime safety expert claimed this week that there is no evidence a passenger boat was to blame for the drownings of the two children.
Jon Geddes, the managing director of CTS & SMS UK which provides specialist maritime training for seamen, defended the crew of the Dorset Belle and said the likely cause of the tragedy was a riptide.
He said people were ‘quick to blame’ the vessel for the tragic events that led to the deaths of Sunnah and Joe, which he claims were down to an ‘act of God’.
Eight other young people who were swimming in the sea had to be rescued in the incident.
The Dorset Belle vessel was later seized by police in connection to the deaths. A man in his 40s and who was ‘on the water’ at the time was arrested for suspects manslaughter and later released under investigation.
Sunnah Khan was pictured laughing on Bournemouth beach shortly before tragedy struck
Dorset Police told MailOnline today its investigation into the death of Sunnah (pictured) remains ongoing
Joe Abbess had been studying Hospitality at City College Southampton in the hopes of owning his own restaurant in the future
There was speculation at the time whether the prop wash from the 78ft-long pleasure cruiser may have contributed to the dangerous conditions and all boat trips from the pier have been halted until further notice as a precaution.
READ MORE: ‘There is no evidence’ 78ft pleasure cruiser Dorset Belle is to blame for drownings
Mr Geddes, who has years of experience both as a boat master and trainer, said he knew the crew of the Dorset Belle and vouched for their competency and professionalism.
Describing the incident as a ‘tragic event’, he added: ‘There is no evidence to prove negligence on behalf of the passenger vessel in question but rather, warranted speculation that riptides and currents may be the cause here. Let’s trust in the investigation and the affiliated parties to do their jobs.’
Dorset Police told MailOnline today the investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan said in the force’s most recent statement: ‘We continue to keep an open mind around the circumstances that have led to the tragic death of two young people in the water off the beach.
‘Our thoughts remain with the families of those young people.
‘As with any investigation of this nature, we have to look at all factors connected to the state of the water. One of those lines of enquiry has involved the pleasure boat, which was in the area at the time of the incident. These enquiries also include examining wind, other weather and general coastal conditions at the time.
‘We are working with experts from partner agencies to understand all of the factors and this will take time to establish.
Police in the area of Bournemouth Beach where Sunnah and Joe Abess, 17, tragically lost their lives at the end of last month
The Dorset Belle vessel was seized by police in connection to the deaths. A man in his 40s and who was ‘on the water’ at the time was arrested for manslaughter and later released under investigation
Sunnah was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition along 17-year-old Joe. Both later died
‘We continue to support the families of Joe and Sunnah and they are being kept updated by specially trained family liaison officers about our investigation.
‘I would ask that the police investigation is allowed to continue without further unhelpful speculation around circumstances of the incident, and that there is respect for the families of those who have died so tragically.
‘I would continue to appeal to anyone at the beach at the time who witnessed the incident to come forward and talk to us.’
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