Parents pay tribute at inquest
Family photos
Twelve-year-old Sunnah Khan and 17-year-old Joe Abbess both drowned off Bournemouth beach
The parents of two children who drowned off Bournemouth Beach have paid tribute to them at an inquest into their deaths.
Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton, and 12-year-old Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, both died after getting into trouble in the water in May 2023.
Joe’s mother, Vanessa, told Dorset Coroner’s Court her son “had a great life ahead of him”, while Sunnah’s mother, Stephanie Williams, described her as a “force of nature”.
A previous hearing was told a rip current tide had led to the deaths of the two youngsters, with eight other people needing treatment by paramedics on the day.
‘Snatched away’
Mrs Abbess also read a statement on behalf of herself and husband, Peter, paying tribute to Joe who had been a trainee chef for Southampton Football Club.
Her voice breaking with emotion, she said: “Joe was a wonderful son, brother and friend and we are all devastated by his death. He is greatly missed.
“Our family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was.
“Joe was generous, loving, caring, hardworking and funny.
“We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are all so sorry that he will never be able to fulfil his dreams and ambitions.
“Joe had a great life ahead of him and it is so tragic that he was snatched away from it. We all find a future without him in our lives very difficult to comprehend.”
Family photo
Joe Abbess was working for Southampton FC as a trainee chef
Harriet Short, who represents the family, took over reading the statement on behalf of Mrs Abbess who had become too emotional to continue.
She described how Joe had gone to the beach on 31 May with a large group of friends.
Unknowingly, she had messaged him at 15:45 BST, about the time the incident was unfolding, saying: “Hope you’re having fun at the beach. It’s so warm, don’t forget to apply sun cream and drink water.”
The statement continued: “Maybe something had alerted me in the depths of my mind that I felt I needed to message Joe to check in on him.”
One of Joe’s friends later called her, sounding “hysterical”, saying lifeguards were trying to get Joe out of the water.
Ms Short said another friend later called Mrs Abbess to say “Joe was in the sea when the waves got crazy and that the alarm had been raised”.
Mrs Abbess then received calls from the police and in a call at 17:41 an A&E consultant at the hospital where he had been taken told her staff “couldn’t do any more for Joe”.
‘Infectious laugh’
Speaking in court, Ms Williams paid a tearful tribute to her “kind, funny, reliable, smart and incredibly beautiful daughter”.
She said she was “incredibly popular at school” and “fiercely protective of her family”.
“Her smile lit up a room and her laugh was infectious,” Ms Williams continued.
“She cared about so many people and would do anything for her family and friends.
“She was a force of nature – to know her was to be truly lucky.
“We have missed her and will continue to miss her for the rest of our lives.”
The inquest continues.
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