The family of 17-year-old Joe Abbess, who died on Wednesday after getting into trouble in the water off Bournemouth beach, has paid tribute to a “fantastic young man”.
In a statement, they said: “We are heartbroken and devastated by 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 wonderful young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.
“Joe was a talented chef in training, with a bright future ahead of him. We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry that he will never live out his dreams and aspirations.
“He enjoyed a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all the emergency services who helped him when this tragedy unfolded.”
The other victim was already named locally as 12-year-old Sunnah Summayah Khan.
A friend of the family told The Telegraph that Miss Khan’s funeral had taken place at High Wycombe Central Mosque on Saturday afternoon.
The tragedy, which killed both Mrs Khan and Mr Abbess of Southampton, involved a pleasure boat, the Dorset Belle, which was impounded by police after the incident involving a man in his 40s, described as “on the water at that time of the dead, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Dorset Police confirmed the man, who was released for inquiries on Thursday, was not known to the victims.
