RNLI statement following inquest into the deaths of Sunnah Khan and Joe Abbess
The coroner investigating the deaths of Sunnah Khan and Joe Abbess at Bournemouth beach in May 2023 has recorded a conclusion of accidental drowning.
Representatives from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution gave evidence during the two-week inquest, which was held by Senior Coroner Rachael Griffin in Bournemouth, Dorset.
Following the conclusion, Peter Dawes, Lifeguard Operations Manager for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said:
‘Our thoughts at this time are with the families and friends of Sunnah and Joe, who sadly lost their lives in the tragic events at Bournemouth beach last May.
‘On that day our lifeguards helped to recover multiple people to safety from the water, and we thank them and our partners for their courageous actions in very challenging circumstances. Without them more lives might have been lost.
‘Sunnah and Joe followed all the safety advice on the beach, but still lost their lives. This is a stark reminder that the sea is unpredictable and going into the sea can always carry a risk.
‘As a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea and the prevention of drowning, we aim to save everyone. We welcome the coroner’s recognition of the importance of beach safety and the pressing need to do more to raise people’s awareness of water safety education, to promote the benefits of learning to swim, and to ensure that all appropriate safety measures are in place.
‘We have provided a seasonal lifeguarding service to local authorities and landowners since 2001 and we patrol 240 beaches each year around the UK coast. Our highly trained lifeguards work alongside council seafront teams and other emergency services. They monitor beach visitors and offer support, advice and education in an attempt to prevent dreadful incidents like this from happening.
‘We will continue to work with our partners to reach as many people as we can with our water safety messages.’
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
-
To find our more information about the RNLI’s water safety advice and how to float to live, visit: https://rnli.org/safety
Media contacts:
-
For more information please contact the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 or via email at [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.