The mother of a 12-year-old who died following an incident at Bournemouth beach said she wants to spread awareness of the dangers of swimming in the sea after losing her 'funny and happy' daughter.

Stephanie Williams, the mother of Sunnah Khan, 12, from High Wycombe who passed away following an incident at Bournemouth beach last Wednesday (May 31), said her daughter's death has been "really difficult to accept".

An inquest held at Bournemouth Town Hall last week heard that Sunnah, alongside 17-year-old Joe Abbess from Southampton, drowned in the water near Bournemouth Pier after "suggestion" that they were caught in a riptide.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, Stephanie said: "She was always really lovely. She was a lovely baby, a lovely toddler, and she was growing into a really funny and happy young woman. It's just so sad that she's gone.

"I've had so many conversations with relatives and friends who lost someone, but I didn't really understand because I hadn't experienced grief or death. Sunnah is the first person I've ever lost." 

Stephanie said that while her family were still struggling to come to terms with Sunnah's death, it was important for her to speak out about the dangers of swimming in the sea to prevent others from going through the same thing.

"We're just coming into the summer holidays and I would absolutely hate for this to happen to anyone else. It's such an awful way to lose somebody's life because you know that drowning is a really terrifying and painful experience.

"It shouldn't have happened. They were just swimming and they were only chest-high in the water. People need to be very aware of how dangerous the sea can be, even when you're in shallow water on a beach with lifeguards."

She said she wants to go back to Bournemouth to speak with the lifeguards and volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution who helped to rescue her daughter from the sea. 

"I know that they're a charity who rely on donations to operate and I think it could be nice at some point for us to raise some money for them. They're so invaluable in keeping people safe.

"I still can't understand how this happened on a lifeguarded beach, and I don't know how but I want to do something to stop even one other person from having to go through it.

"Otherwise, what was the point? She can't be gone for nothing."

Stephanie added that she was "so grateful" to everyone who had reached out since the incident to offer their support and condolences, despite the attention being overwhelming at such a sensitive time.

"Strangers have come to the house to drop off flowers and they have been crying despite not even knowing her. I've had lots of messages too, from people saying that it's really affected them.

"We're all so grateful and I understand the interest, but I also know that some people will just read the story and forget about it by next week. 

"It's our reality, we have to live with this forever."

Sunnah's family have set up a fundraising page to help pay for a headstone and "give her the memorial she deserves". Click here to donate now.