BAD WEATHER — Overcast skies, high winds, choppy seas and heavy rainfall was the atmosphere for Grand Bahama this weekend.
FREEPORT, Bahamas (Freeport News), June 4, 2007:
The closely knit settlements of East Grand Bahama are mourning the loss of one of their well-known elderly community leaders. Eighty-two-year-old Hayward Bevans of High Rock was found lifeless aboard his small fishing vessel Saturday afternoon.
Chief Superintendent Basil Rahming, police press liaison officer, yesterday reported that Bevans left his home May 31 morning for a fishing trip that was only supposed to last for several hours.
Bevans, who was aboard his 14-foot aluminum boat with a 25 HP Mercury engine, sailed to his favourite fishing spot off North Riding Point, also known as "The Gap."
Rahming said that after Bevans' wife became worried, she contacted Rev. Freddie Laing of Pelican Point, who called the police and reported the elderly fisherman missing.
Laing phoned police around 3:45 p.m. Friday, June 1, and informed them of the situation.
He told police that Bevans spoke to his wife by cell-phone about 8:30 p.m. Thursday to say that he was stuck in the creek and was waiting on the tide to rise, so that he could return home.
However, when Bevans did not show up by midday Friday and was not able to be reached by cellphone, loved ones began to worry. Laing noted that by 3:00 p.m. he made the decision to call police.
Immediately following Laing's report, local law enforcement officers alerted BASRA, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Officers from the three agencies took to sea and sky in search of Bevans and his vessel.
Rahming said that shortly after 5:00 p.m. a crew onboard a low-flying U. S. Coast Guard helicopter spotted a small boat in waters off North Riding Point and notified their counterparts on the ground.
The officers reported that there was a body lying face down in the boat and it appeared lifeless.
Officers from the Central Detective Unit along with uniformed officers and relatives of Bevans proceeded to that location.
Unfortunately, due to difficulties in accessing the area, it took several hours before the vessel and body could be removed and brought to shore.
Rahming said there were no visible injuries to the body and while police do not suspect foul play at this time, an autopsy will be performed in order to determine the exact cause of death.
By Barbara Walkin
© 2007 The Freeport News
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