4 Bournemouth beach tragedy theories as cops address speculation on kids’ death

Mystery surrounds the circumstances over the deaths of two kids at Bournemouth Beach yesterday (May 31) after Dorset Police were forced to rule out several rumours swirling on social media.

News broke late last night that a man in his 40s had been arrested after a 17-year-old boy and girl, 12, had died at the popular tourist beach.

A rescue operation was launched at 4.30pm and saw a total of eight additional people, all thought to be children, pulled from the water.

In a statement issued by Dorset Police, a spokesperson said: “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."

The force yesterday said that a man in his 40s had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and an investigation by detectives is underway.

The man, who was “on the water” at the time of the incident, has now been released under investigation, police have said this evening (June 1).

However, as the incident was unfolding, social media was filled with amateur detectives claiming to know what was happening – most of which was official denied later on.

A Jet Ski or 'vessel' accident was to blame

Investigating police forces have said that “early investigation” has found no one pulled from the water came into “physical contact” with any kind of vessel, despite early speculation.

Rumours claimed it was either a jet ski or some kind of small boat – or possibly the conditions created by it – but this was denied.

However, this didn't stop Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, repeating the claim.

He tweeted: “It would seem not a far reach to draw a conclusion that while the vessel may not have physically touched the young people perhaps it created the conditions which made being in the water more dangerous by the speed it was going.”

The children were 'tombstoning' off Bournemouth Pier

It had been rumoured that the two children, as well as those in the water around them, had been diving off the pier straight into the water – a practice known as tombstoning.

There have been unconfirmed reports that some kids had been attempting this on the day but it is unclear if the victims had been involved.

Mystery boat sealed off

Dorset Police have reportedly impounded a pleasure boat called the 80-person pleasure boat Dorset Belle earlier today.

According to a source speaking to The Times, it was “under a police cordon”.

They added: “No one is permitted onboard or to touch the vessel.”

Dorset Belle is now in Pool Harbour, with police investigating it.

It has not been confirmed by police why the boat was taken, or what connection it has to the investigation.

A rip tide washed them out to sea

The father or survivor Lauren Tate said that his daughter – who was in hospital for a brief time after the incident – was taken out to sea by a rip tide.

He said: “She was swimming in the sea with her friends when the rip tide took them out.

“She was lucky to get pulled from the sea by the coastguard and one of her other friends was rescued by a paddle-boarder.”

An investigation is still ongoing.

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