Bournemouth beach deaths: Apology over 'crass' placement of artwork

Portal was unveiled on Wednesday and was set to be the centrepiece of the annual Arts by the Sea Festival

A council has apologised for a "crass" art exhibit after the families of two children complained it frames the area of sea where they lost their lives.

Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, died after being pulled from the sea off Bournemouth Pier on 31 May.

A 15m (49ft), rectangular installation, Portal, was set up on the beach on Wednesday as part of an arts festival.

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) issued an "unreserved apology".

Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess, 17, both died on 31 May

In a statement, Vanessa Abbess, mother of Joe, said: "As a family, we were shocked and astounded to see news reports of the disrespectful Arts by the Sea installation at Bournemouth Beach yesterday."

Describing it as badly located and thoughtless, Mrs Abbess said: "It frames the area of sea where our son, Joe and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties.

"In addition, it is sited on the area of beach where emergency services cared for all casualties and the tragic circumstances unfolded."

She added: "We are grateful that BCP Council have acted so quickly, but feel with a little consideration and respect to Joe, Sunnah and both families, this could have been avoided."

BCP Council said work was under way to close down the installation

Graham Farrant, chief executive of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP), said: "We are deeply sorry for such a crass mistake which clearly should never have happened.

"We have extended an unreserved apology to the families for causing further upset at what is undoubtedly already a distressing time.

"Work is under way to close down the installation and we will review our internal processes to understand how this happened and what changes need to be made to avoid this from happening again."

Andy Martin, cabinet member for culture, communication and customer, later said conversations were being had involving the families and the artist to "find a way forward".

"The most important thing from our point of view is that we do something that the families are happy with, whatever that is."

"They obviously have had so much upset and distress, we have clearly added to that.

"We will continue to apologise and continue to communicate and work with them to get through this and do whatever we can to make the situation better for them," he said.

One person who visited Bournemouth to see Portal described it as "a nice piece of art"

Several people who went to see the installation said they would be sad to see it go.

"It's such a nice piece of art, it's a shame, really. But obviously you've got to take their point of view for how they feel," one visitor said.

"It would be nice if it could stay. Maybe they could put it somewhere else?," another visitor added.

Joe, from Southampton, and Sunnah, from Buckinghamshire, were part of a group of people swept out to sea near the pier.

At the opening of their inquests in June, the court heard there was a "suggestion" a rip current had led to the pair drowning.