Two feared drowned in St. Kitts
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief – SKNVibes
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| SKNDF Public Affairs Officer – Lieutenant Kayode Sutton |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) Coast Guard have been combing sections of the Atlantic Ocean since last evening following the disappearance of two young men from Newtown.
Collin Matthew of East Street, Newtown, Kita Williams and Dula Maynard, both of Newtown Project, were reportedly fishing in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday night when the boat they were in capsized and they attempted to swim ashore, but only Matthew made it to safety.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of the SKNDF, Lieutenant Kayode Sutton said the incident was reported to the Coast Guard last night by Matthew.
“At about 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, Mr. Collin Matthew of East Street, Newtown reported to the Coast Guard Base that he, Kita Williams and Dula Maynard went out in a fishing boat to retrieve fish traps they had set around the Canoe Bay area in the South East Peninsula.
“Matthew explained that a high wave suddenly hit the boat causing it to
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| Canoe Bay, the general area in which the incident allegedly occurred |
capsize and the three of them started swimming towards the shore,” Sutton said.
He noted Matthew claimed that the incident occurred about 250 metres from Canoe Bay’s shore, close to the Sand Banks Beach.
Sutton said Matthew further explained that they were swimming against the tide and at one stage when he looked to his rear he saw the two men making their way in his direction, “towards the shore”.
“However, Matthew claimed that when he looked around again he did not see them. So, on reaching dry land he looked around the area in search of them, but they were nowhere to be found.
He then made his way to the Coast Guard Base and reported the incident,” Sutton said.
The PAO said the Coast Guard immediately dispatched a number of men in boats to conduct searches for the missing men.
“They conducted a search of the area last night and men were sent back there this morning to continue, because the search did not yield any success.
~~Adz:Left~~ Even as we speak, members of the Coast Guard are still combing the area for the two missing men.”
Sutton further explained that the boat in which the men went fishing is a blue and white 18-foot vessel harnessed with a 25HP Yamaha engine.
He also said the vessel is owned by one Seabrookes of Newtown and was captained by Matthew at the time of the incident.
Police are investigating.
