Bournemouth incident: Tributes to girl, 12, killed in beach tragedy while swimming with brother
Tributes were paid to an ‘Angel’ schoolgirl pictured after she died in a tragedy on Bournemouth beach.
Sunnah Khan, 12, was remembered as a popular young student who looked forward to a bright future.
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Sunnah from High Wycombe, Bucks, was swimming with her brother as the horror unfolded.
She died along with a 17-year-old boy after getting into trouble at the city’s pier.
They were among 10 youths swept away by giant waves on Wednesday, believed to have been caused by a passing boat.
A family friend said: “Everyone will miss her, she was very popular and her death will leave a void that will not be filled.”
“She had so much more to look forward to. She was an angel.”
More than 200 friends and family gathered for Sunnah’s funeral at the Central Mosque in High Wycombe on Saturday.
Mohammed Rafiq, 65, a trustee of the Wycombe Islamic Mission and Mosque, said people have traveled from cities across the region to pay their respects to the Sunnah.
He told The Sun: “What happened is tragic for the family. They are very hardworking and are very well respected here, it’s a tight-knit community.
“Hundreds of people came to the funeral, the queue was overflowing.”
Sunnah was flown to hospital in critical condition alongside Hants, a teenager from Southampton, before both children died.
The other swimmers were treated on site.
On one of the hottest days of the year, Sunnah traveled to the coastal city with her brother for a semester break.
One of her family members said, “She was an absolute force of nature, liked by everyone and loved by so many.”
“Your parents, siblings and friends will miss you so much.
“There are no words to describe the hole she left in our hearts, but we will remember her every day for the rest of our lives.”
On Saturday, more heroic teenagers were revealed to be fighting for their lives after hearing screams from beachgoers around 4pm.
Brave Kaiden Andre, 15, from Basingstoke, Hants, was swimming with friends when he heard the screams of a man screaming for help.
He tried to drag a man and woman to shore before leading the couple to safety along with his girlfriend Iona, who is a strong swimmer.
His mother Jody said: “Kaiden told me he had never seen the sea so choppy.
“When I saw my child get off the train home and knew someone had lost their child, I can’t tell you how that felt.
“His instinct was just to help, but it really scared him. We cannot believe the courage he has shown.”
Police continued their search of the Dorset Belle on Saturday – the 78ft pleasure boat was still under guard in Poole Harbour.
According to boat tracking site Marine Traffic, the boat reached Bournemouth Pier minutes before the first 999 calls were made.
A man in his 40s, who was “on the water” at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released Thursday as part of an investigation.
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