Emergency at Bournemouth beach as two male swimmers seen struggling in spot ... trends now
A major emergency response was launched at Bournemouth beach after two male swimmers were seen struggling in the exact spot where two teenagers drowned less than a week earlier.
The swimmers were spotted in difficulty in the water to the east of Bournemouth Pier at 12.25pm on Tuesday, June 6.
It prompted a huge air and sea operation involving beach lifeguards, an RNLI lifeboat, two coastguard crews, a coastguard helicopter, police officers and ambulance paramedics.
The operation was called off at 1.15pm when it emerged the two male swimmers had been able to make their own way back on to the beach. It is not known if they were adults or children.
It comes just six days after Sunnah Khan, 12, and trainee chef Joe Abbess, 17, drowned in a suspected riptide in the same spot at the pier.
Sunnah Khan, 12, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died after being pulled under the water by the riptide. Here she is pictured moments before the tragedy
Devastated friends of Joe Abbess, who died in the Bournemouth beach tragedy last week, have paid tribute to the 'ambitious' trainee chef
The Dorset Belle pleasure boat (far left) docked at the pier as air ambulances departed after Sunnah and Joe were swept out to sea. Pictured: Bournemouth beach last week
Their deaths sparked a major police investigation - which saw a man aged in his 40s who was 'on the water' at the time be arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
He has since been released under investigation.
The 78ft pleasure cruiser, the Dorset Belle, has also been impounded amid suggestions prop wash from it could have contributed to the dangerous sea conditions.
Sunnah and Joe were swimming in the sea on May 31 next to the pier when they and eight others got into difficulty in the water.
After a desperate scramble, they were recovered from the sea and lifeguards and paramedics tried valiantly to resuscitate them on the sand.
However, despite being airlifted to hospital, both were declared dead a short time later.
Dorset coroner's officer Nicola Muller said the two children drowned after a 'sudden riptide' in the area.
All boat operations were suspended from Bournemouth pier following their deaths, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council announced yesterday.
The ban on boat operations would remain pending the outcome of a police investigation, according to the council.
A BCP (Bournemouth Christchurch Poole) Council spokesman said: 'All boat
