A grieving family has paid tribute to a boy of 17 who died after getting into difficulty off Bournemouth Beach on Wednesday.
They described trainee chef Joe Abbess, from Southampton, as a 'fabulous young man'. Joe and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire, who has not been named, died while eight others were treated by paramedics. The Dorset Belle has been impounded by Dorset Police and a man in his 40s who was 'on the water' at the time has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released under investigation.
The family of Joe Abbess said in a statement: "We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.
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"His family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.
"Joe was a talented trainee chef, with a bright future ahead of him. We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry he will never fulfil his dreams and ambitions.
"He was enjoying a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all of the emergency services who helped him, when this tragedy unfolded."
Dorset Police said no physical contact was made between the swimmers and any vessel or jet-ski and those involved had not been jumping off the pier.
The force has declined to comment on any investigation into the Dorset Belle and refused to say what or if any vessel was involved. Eyewitnesses have suggested that the swimmers had got caught up in a dangerous riptide leading to the fatal incident.
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