A beachgoer who was among thousands who flocked to the south coast this week said coronavirus "doesn't matter" because he does not know anyone who's tested positive.
Boris Johnson warned the public against “taking liberties” with social distancing rules after huge numbers of visitors defied coronavirus guidelines during this week's heatwave.
His comments came after a "major incident" was declared by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council on England's south coast after services were “completely overstretched”.
But one man at Bournemouth beach said although the crowds were "a bit hectic" he was not worried about being unable to keep to social distancing rules.
He told the BBC: "We’ve had two [holidays] cancelled already...
"I still don’t know anyone that’s even had it [Covid-19] so in my eyes, it doesn’t really matter.
"‘But yeah, as long as everyone’s safe, but it’s getting a bit hectic down here now isn’t it? It’s probably going to cause a second wave, people are just doing what they want aren’t they?"
The council said that beaches were "stretched to the absolute hilt," as the mercury hit 33.3C in England on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year so far.
Three men from London were stabbed on a brawl on Bournemouth pier on Thursday evening, requiring hospital treatment. None of the men, who were in their twenties, suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.
Meanwhile photos from the beach showed huge amounts of rubbish left strewn across the sand after the crowds went home from the packed beach.
Responding to the crowded scenes, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that coronavirus infection rates "will rise again" if people ignore social distancing rules.
Local MP Tobias Ellwood, speaking from Bournemouth beach on Friday morning, said: “This place was deluged and social distancing went out the window and that’s why a major incident was declared, because the local authority and indeed the police couldn’t cope.”
He told BBC Breakfast: “The beach should have been closed down, or at least shut down to prevent further people from entering it.”
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