81-Year Old Man drowns at Great Bay Beach. Body recovered by Coast Guard
- Published in Soualiga News II
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The Metal Shark Coast Guard vessel that retrieved the lifeless body of the 81-year-old drowning victim on Sunday morning docked at a pier in Philipsburg. (Police photo)
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On Saturday, May 29, at approximately 5:50pm, the Police Dispatch Center received a notification that an 81-year-old man with initials O.A. went swimming at Great Bay Beach and was not seen since.
Police and Coast Guard initiated a search for the missing man in Great Bay and surrounding areas. The Coast Guard continued the search late into the evening, but there was no sign of the man. The search was halted due to the darkness.
In the morning of Sunday, May 30, the Coast Guard took up the search again. At approximately 8:30am, they located the man’s body in the water near Divi Little Bay Beach Resort.
A preliminary investigation was conducted by detectives and the police doctor concluded that the victim had died from drowning.
The Sint Maarten Police expresses its condolences to the families of the deceased. (KPSM)
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Report on Finding Lifeless Body Sunday morning
SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Sub Station in Simpson Bay released the following press release on Sunday afternoon in connection with the lifeless body that was found on Sunday morning in Great Bay.
The Coast Guard said that they found the lifeless body of a missing man in Great Bay. “Yesterday afternoon the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard received a notification from the Korps Politie St. Maarten (KPSM) that someone who was swimming at Bobby's Marina went missing.
“A Metal Shark patrol that was already patrolling the sea, went to the location to help search for the missing person. Unfortunately, the man was not found, and the search was called off for the night. This morning the lifeless body of the man was found on the west side of Great Bay during a search action of a Metal Shark patrol.
“The lifeless body of the elderly man was handed over to the KPSM. The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard wishes the family of the deceased strength in this difficult time and may he rest in peace,” the Coast Guard statement concludes.