Boy, 13, thrown into the sea by 'grown man' at Hayling Island
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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.
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Hide AdPosts 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.
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Hide AdShe 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.’
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Hide AdA 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.’
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Hide AdAnyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 44200287023.