Trip of a lifetime turned deadly at sea

A US man who was injured in a recent boating accident that claimed the life of his 55-year-old wife left The Bahamas on Thursday, but her body has not yet been transported from the country.

With his arm in a sling, bruises visible, and tears streaming down his face, the man, who asked that he and his late wife’s names be kept out of the story, said the trip through The Bahamas on their sailboat had been a longtime dream they shared.

The couple, who had been married 32 years, cruised out of New Bern, North Carolina.

“It was a long trip and it was really cold actually, but we were very determined to make it to The Bahamas because this was supposed to be a lifetime trip for us,” he said.

But the dream vacation turned to tragedy when a powerboat collided with their dinghy in waters off Staniel Cay, Exuma, on Sunday, March 24.

His wife was killed, and he was transported to New Providence where he spent several days at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Speaking with The Nassau Guardian before boarding a plane out of The Bahamas, he said, “The shortest version is I was run over by a large power boat.

“I was going through a narrow part of a cut between Big Major’s and Staniel and I saw a large powerboat coming and I tried to turn and get out of their way and they matched every turn I made.

“I don’t think it was intentional, but it’s what happened, and I tried to get out of the way. I don’t think they ever saw me at all.

“We were in an 9ft rubber dinghy that we used to get from our sailboat to land.”

His wife had recently retired.

“She had gotten a chance to retire early, a retirement we were supposed to enjoy together,” he said, adding that he hopes some lesson is learnt from the tragedy.

“I hope people learn to slow down and be more careful with those big powerboats because they are changing people’s lives.

“I don’t think they saw me. I tried to get out of the way, but I couldn’t get out of their way.”

Through his grief, the American man had praise for the medical team who treated him in The Bahamas.

“All of the Bahamian people have been great,” he said.

“The facilities, unfortunately, I think lack funding and need help and, I don’t know, maybe I’ll try to figure out some way to help. I don’t know, I might be able to do something positive.”

Speaking of PMH, he added, “They do the best with what they’ve got. They’ve just got so little, it seems. It’s actually amazing they can do what they do.”

https://www.thenassauguardian.com/n...cial&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

I read the Nassau paper when bored. The news and corruption gets hilarious sometimes.
This story was found there.

Like many other stories in that rag, usually way short on details.
When stories come up like this, many times more details come from our members.

Luv it when it comes together.

It is still a homicide.
Needs to be investigated and pursued.
Somebody has to go to jail Ben..

Judy's tally needs to be updated also.
https://www.yachtforums.com/threads/notice-to-mariners.38387/

Faverate quote from a movie but it does reflect my attitude.
Just like if you kill somebody on the road with a car because of poor visibility, it is a homicide.
There are lots of options vs continuing operating blindly at speed.

If you ran people over with your car or boat, no you would not want me on your jury.
You may have a different view if you were a victim though.

As I have posted before, I have witnessed enough carnage on the roads and rivers.
More causes of these need to still be in jail, Ben.