Lad missing at sea!!
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| TRAVIS HUGHES: Brother of one of the four boys who went surfing |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AFTER hours of searching, family members, friends and members of the community left the Hermitage Bay area not knowing whether Mervin Mitchum of Cayon was alive or dead.
Initial reports suggested that a lad said to be about 14 years of age was “missing at sea” and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts Nevis Coast Guard were called in to assist with the search effort.
Investigations made by this media house revealed that four lads, identified as Rijkard Hughes, ‘Kimbo’, Mitchum and his brother Chris, all of Cayon, were at Hermitage Bay with a surfboard when something went amiss and Mitchum began drifting out to sea with the board.
Upon arrival at the scene, SKNVibes spoke with Travis Hughes, Rijkard’s brother, who explained that he was at home feeding his fish when he received the distress call. Travis added that after he had alerted the police, he went in search of Mitchum which lasted for approximately four hours.
“I was at home feeding my fish and then my brother called me at approximately 12:45 and told me to come and help him because one of his friends was going out further and further into the sea. So, on my way down I called the police and they told me they were coming. I went down and was searching for him, but up until now we have not seen him. ~~Adz:Right~~
“They were on a surfboard. It was four of them. The two brothers went out on the surfboard, one fell off and my brother and the other guy had to go for him but the other one was still on the surfboard and the water carried him straight out. Apparently, he got knocked off the surfboard. The surfboard reached back on shore but they have not found him up until now.”
SKNVibes, while at the scene, also met with two of Mitchum’s classmates who indicated that next month they would have commenced the new school year together in form 4A1. They described him as a “friendly” individual and were careful to note that this incident has changed their minds from engaging in a pre-planned sea-based activity.
“He was a kind and friendly person…I was planning to go fishing on Friday but I am not going again because of what happened. I was going to Ottleys to fish and there are lots of rocks there, so we normally stand on a rock and cast out the line but I am not going again,” said one of his schoolmates.
Minister of Agriculture and Parliamentary Representative of Constituency Eight, the Hon. Cedric Liburd was also present at the scene.
He told SKNVibes police officers had informed him of the incident and had related that members of the Coast Guard “had checked the area for the missing boy but they had to leave because of the strong current”.
The Minister noted that it was a sad occasion to be visiting at the time; “however, it’s a concern to all of us in the area”. He also stated that a family member told him the missing teen was due to travel with the Pathfinders to Antigua on Sunday.
“It is nice to see the community has come out to assist in the search of the missing teenager, and I sincerely hope they would continue and rally around the family at this time,” the Minister said.
The Area Representative indicated that he would be visiting the missing boy’s family and hoped he may show up to set their hearts at ease.
Sometime after 4:00 p.m. SKNVibes was informed by an officer of the Coast Guard that their vessel was combing through the waters at and around the Hermitage Bay area. However, at press time when a further call was placed to ascertain whether or not the search was still on, this media house was told that that information could not be divulged.
