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NASPA employee retrieves lady’s bag from high waves
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Shawn Warner and an unidentified woman. Warner braved high waves to retrieve the woman’s bag
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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - SHAWN Warner, a Hamilton resident, risked his life and braved the high waves to retrieve a lady’s bag that fell from her grasp as she disembarked from a boat at the Charlestown water front on Thursday.
Warner, an employee of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA), was off duty and was just about to board the Carib Breeze ferry en route to St. Kitts when he dived into the waves to retrieve the bag that contained the lady’s personal documents.
Warner said moments after he swam against the heavy current from the Charlestown Pier into Gallows Bay, his chivalrous behaviour kicked in because of his training as a marine officer with NASPA and he did not think twice to assist. Notwithstanding, Warner said he had no regrets having done the favour even though it was for a stranger.
“I was on my way to St. Kitts and heard this gentleman speaking about his wife’s purse which had all her documents and money. It fell in the water and no one really decided to volunteer and others were looking
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| Lester Blackette, the Director Nevis Disaster Management Office, told members of the public to be cautious |
at me and saying that’s the job I do as a marine officer at the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority. It was not really such a big deal, the water is not all that bad so I just decide to volunteer.
“It was tough; the current was pushing very hard but as I learnt as a kid coming up you cannot fight against it,” he said.
He described himself as a one who likes excitement and the sea. “I am a person who likes a lot of excitement.
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As a child coming up that is the weather I actually used to run away from home and come to the beach and swim in.
~~Adz:Left~~ Helping someone is nice, because in my Department you have to look out for everyone. So my advice to anyone is if you can help someone you do that because you might just need a favour as well,” he said
The incident occurred amidst an alert by the Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Office, Lester Blackett, that members of the public should be careful and avoid the island’s beaches over the Easter weekend. The warning was issued last Thursday in light of weather conditions that had given rise to dangerous heavy seas.
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“We are advising persons to stay away from the beach especially persons who normally bathe in the sea. Small craft operators should remain on shore or get safe harbour. The waves are very significant and it is affecting the Samuel Hunkins Driveway and the areas surrounding the TDC parking lot. We are advising persons to be particularly cautious during this period,” Blackett cautioned.
The heavy swells were expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday. The Director however said the boats were running as usual. “I am sure the captains are keeping a keen eye”.
Blackette told the Department of Information that significant wave action was expected as far away as Barbados, St. Lucia and the British Virgin Islands in the north and advisories had been issued by the Meteorological Office in Antigua, which is responsible for the St. Kitts and Nevis area.
While dangerous 12-foot high swells were expected during the Easter Weekend, Blackette predicted that coastal flooding and beach erosion could be expected. He confirmed there was some damage to the Fisherman's Pier in Charlestown.
“We have also experienced some mild damage at the Fisherman’s Pier on the Charlestown roadstead. That is because of the height of the waves in some cases the waves are coming over the top of the pier. I understand that last night waves were going up into Charlestown reaching almost as far as the Treasury Building,” he said.
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