Rough seas hamper search for woman missing after boat accident

Robins Bay, St Mary

High tide and rough seas have thwarted the efforts of a search-and-rescue team off the coast of Robins Bay in St Mary for the second straight day.

The search, which was scheduled to continue on Sunday for a woman who went missing following a boat accident on Saturday, was called off shortly after midday (Sunday) due to high winds and rough sea conditions.

Superintendent of Police for the St Mary Police Division Bobette Morgan-Simpson said the unfavourable weather conditions along the sea coast prevented the search team from continuing their efforts to locate the missing woman, which was first aborted on Saturday.

The woman is said to be 21 years old.

Investigators said a group of people from Kingston reportedly boarded a vessel around midday Saturday for a boat ride that went horribly wrong.

According to investigators, shortly after sailing out to sea, the boat capsized and it was local fishermen from the area who sprang into action and managed to pull more than a dozen people from the sea and into their boat. Some of the rescued individuals had suffered injuries.

It was later discovered that one member of the group, a woman, was missing. A search was launched by the Jamaica Defense Force and the Marine police, however, the search was abandoned shortly after due to the unfavourable sea conditions on Saturday.

Dr Morais Guy, member of parliament for St Mary Central, who spoke with The Gleaner via telephone on Sunday, said it was a very unfortunate incident, which was of major concern as the nation awaits word of the fate of the missing young woman.