Sunnah’s father Asim Khan recalled in a statement how he had taken Sunnah to Bournemouth along with his sister, Rena Khan, and two other children from the family.
He said he had remained on the sand while Sunnah had gone into the sea with his sister and another child.
He said they “started panicking” 20 to 30 minutes after the first person was brought out of the sea and Sunnah could not be found.
“I believe that all of the lifeguards that day were doing their best, however, they were mostly very young, teenagers really, they all seemed panicked and looked like they didn’t know what to do,” he told the court.
Ms Williams paid a tearful tribute to her “kind, funny, reliable, smart and incredibly beautiful daughter”.
She said she was “incredibly popular at school” and “fiercely protective of her family”.
“Her smile lit up a room and her laugh was infectious,” Ms Williams continued.
“She cared about so many people and would do anything for her family and friends.
“She was a force of nature – to know her was to be truly lucky.
“We have missed her and will continue to miss her for the rest of our lives.”
Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said post-mortem examinations of both Joe and Sunnah showed they died of drowning with no sign of blunt force injury.
The inquest continues.
