Family and friends of the 12-year-old girl who died at Bournemouth beach have described her as "an amazing person" whose "smile lit up a room". 

Tributes have been paid online from friends and family remembering the young girl from High Wycombe who lost her life following an incident at Bournemouth beach on Wednesday, May 31.

The girl died alongside a 17-year-old boy from Southampton, after the incident happened on May 31. Police have confirmed the pair were not related.

Eight other children were also injured in the incident after getting into trouble in the water, as the beach was packed out during half term.

Among a number of touching tributes, one friend wrote on TikTok: "You didn't deserve this. I'll miss you forever and never forget you."

Another said: "You were too young to be taken from this world. My best friend and my reason to wake up everyday."

A third person paid tribute to her friend's "kind and caring" nature, writing: "She was such an amazing person and her smile lit up a room. It was far too early for our angel to gain her wings."

Other members of the High Wycombe community also sent their condolences to those close to the 12-year-old.

One local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It's never easy to lose such a young life so soon. I can't imagine the pain of the parents and pray they find ease and comfort.

"As a parent, your natural instinct is to protect your child. Hold on to their memories, the moment they opened their eyes, the tears you wiped and the hugs and love you gave them. The good you showed them of this cruel world."

High Wycombe resident Rahat Ara Hussain added: "This sad news must be especially hard for the parents to overcome.

"We send our condolences to the family and friends of this young girl who had so much ahead of her."

Another commenter shared that the girl's school friends were "heartbroken" at the news of her death, writing: "This young lady will be sadly missed." 

While the exact nature of the incident that took place at Bournemouth beach on Wednesday afternoon remains unclear, a pleasure boat was seized by police yesterday (June 1) and remains under a cordon as inquiries continue.

A man in his 40s who was "on the water" at the time of the incident was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter yesterday (June 1) and has been released under investigation.

The force confirmed in a statement that the deaths have not been linked to people jumping from the pier, and no vessels or jet skis were involved.