Boy, 13, thrown into the sea by 'grown man' at Hayling Island
A TEENAGE boy was thrown into Langstone Harbour in a dispute near a pub, police have confirmed.
The ‘very upset’ 13-year-old was near the Ship Inn at Hayling Island when he was picked up by a man and chucked into the water.
His bike and belongings were thrown in shortly after, a relative said on Facebook.
Posts on social media suggested the boy and friends had been ‘blowing spit balls’ at people shortly before the incident.
Officers are now investigating the incident, a police spokeswoman said.
The relative said: ‘This could have been so much worse – what if he couldn’t swim?’
According to the woman’s post on social media, the boy was with friends but has been left shaken although he was unharmed.
She said: ‘There was a small incident next to the ship inn involving a group of teenagers (13 year olds).
‘An adult picked up one of the teenagers and threw him in the sea along with his bike and belongings.
She added: ‘He is unharmed and just shaken. Thank you for all concerned.
‘We understand lads can be cheeky at times but do not feel even if he was, it warrants a grown man throwing him into the sea.’
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: ‘We received a report at 9.15am on July 31, that at around 6pm on July 29 their 13-year-old son was cycling on Langstone Bridge with a friend when there was a verbal altercation with an older man.
‘The man has then thrown the 13-year-old and his bike into the water.
‘The boy was thankfully able to swim to shore and retrieve his bike.’
Posting on a local Facebook group one man, who said he was not responsible for the incident, said: ‘Your boys were causing mischief blowing spit balls out of straws at me... then they done it to the other group and got chucked in the sea.’
Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 44200287023.