Three rescuers describe chaos after July boat crash that killed four

A security officer and two boat captains gave accounts on Wednesday of their efforts to save people after a collision between two vessels at Anse Cochon on July 18, appearing before a Commission of Inquiry to describe the night that left four dead and 14 injured.

The crash involved Ocean Angel, heading north, and Cazorla Jr, moving south towards Soufriere. Those who died were Tyrone Paul, Marley Williams, Mhakeida Nestor and Debbie Dolor.

Larry John worked as a security officer at Ti Kaye Resort and Spa and was on a work break when the collision happened. He heard the impact, then went to a dock but found darkness. "I went on the dock overlooking the sea, but it was pitch black, so I couldn't see anything," he said. John alerted his supervisor and another security officer, then moved to Ti Manje Restaurant to help coordinate the response. A bridge from the resort was extended to a floating deck to reach passengers from both boats.

When asked about his emotional state, John said the scene stayed with him. "I saw so much blood, so many injuries. Six male individuals were bleeding and agitated, and I had to tell them hold on, the ambulance is on its way."

Nemius Joseph operated the boat Finding Nemo and was sailing from Gros Islet to Soufriere when he passed Ti Kaye. He spotted lights on a yacht and heard men calling out. Joseph brought them aboard, took them to Ti Kaye, then turned back to search for two people survivors named: captain Tyson Hippolyte of Cazorla Jr and passenger Taylor Riviere. Marine police arrived soon after.

Darren Joseph, known as Caffu, was also heading towards Soufriere by boat when he reached Anse Cochon and saw someone signalling with a light. He noticed part of Ocean Angel submerged and found Tyson. Learning the details of what had occurred, Caffu said the shock nearly caused him to lose consciousness and he needed assistance from someone nearby.

Caffu took survivors aboard and was asked to search for four others unaccounted for. "I looked and saw a body floating; we pulled the body out of the water and had to put it on 'Chakabee'," he told the Commission, referring to an injured passenger, Elius Nicholas. His vessel held roughly 10 to 11 people by then. He steered toward Canaries, waiting for the rough seas to settle so the injured could be brought ashore, and remained with one passenger until paramedics came.

Caffu disclosed the collision had struck him personally: he was family to Tyrone Paul and had been close to Marley Williams. When asked if he wanted counselling support, he responded that his faith sustained him.

Mario Mitchell, the Commission Chair, expressed gratitude to all three men for their rescue work and offered counselling if any wished to accept it.