A police officer watches the crowds at Bournemouth beach (Picture: Getty)
Two people got into difficulty swimming at the exact spot in Bournemouth beach where two children drowned last week, it has emerged.
A huge air and sea operation involving lifeguards, the RNLI, two coastguard crews and a helicopter, was launched just after midday on Tuesday.
The male swimmers were spotted struggling in the water to the east of Bournemouth Pier, where Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, drowned in a suspected riptide.
Thankfully, the tragedy was not repeated and the swimmers made their own way back to the beach.
The rescue mission was stood down at 1.15pm, with Dorset police confirming the beachgoers were ‘safe and well’.
Shortly after the second incident, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council suspended all boat operations from the pier.
A pleasure cruiser called the Dorset Belle was also impounded at its berth in Poole Harbour on Friday.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances involving the 49-year-old boat, which has a capacity of 80 passengers, as well as the weather and sea conditions at the time.
Joe Abbess,17, drowned in the double tragedy at Bournemouth beach (Picture: PA)
Sunnah Khan also lost her life (Picture: Nigel Ramdial)
Meanwhile, a man in his 40s, said to be ‘on the water’ at the time of the fatal incident, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but later released under investigation.
In a statement this weekend, 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.
A pleasure boat called the Dorset Belle was impounded in Poole (Picture: Getty)
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‘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.’
On Saturday, more than 200 friends and family members gathered for Sunnah’s funeral at the Central Mosque in High Wycombe.
‘She will be missed by everyone, she was very popular and her death will leave a hole that will be impossible to fill,‘ a family friend told The Sun.
‘She had so much more to look forward to. She was an angel.’
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It sparked a huge air and sea operation involving lifeguards, the RNLI, two coastguard crews and a helicopter.
