Marine cops injured, rough seas suspend search
RCIPS Joint Marine Unit and Panga boat that the missing men and boys had been aboard
(CNS) Updated: Three officers with the RCIPS Joint Marine Unit received injuries Tuesday, during their efforts to bring in the boat that the missing three men and two boys were on when they left to go fishing Sunday, and a fourth officer also received medical attention Wednesday. The search and rescue operation, which covers a 350 square mile area, resumed Thursday morning despite the ongoing rough weather conditions off the southwest of Grand Cayman, with waves estimated to be 10-15 feet.
The search for the missing men and boys was suspended yesterday afternoon due to severely deteriorating weather, police said. “This afternoon (Wednesday), due to severely deteriorating weather, the search on sea had to be suspended and the Guardian returned to the marine base in very rough seas. One officer required medical treatment. The families of the missing persons have been informed of the temporary suspension of the rescue operation,” an RCIPS spokesperson said.
Police were also engaged in a shoreline search Wednesday morning, from Seven Mile Beach to East End, but so far there is no sign of the two young boys Kanyi (9) and Kamron (11) Brown, their uncle Gary Mullings, Edsell Haylock or Nicholas Watler, who were all last seen aboard the boat sometime between 3pm and 4pm Sunday with only one engine working on the 27 ft Panga
Marine officers first spotted the overturned boat Monday morning but were unable to get to it due to bad weather, which has hampered the search and rescue operation. It was re-sighted by the pilot of Cayman Helicopters, which also joined the search, round 5:15 Monday evening.
It took more than three hours of effort in 10-12 foot waves yesterday for police to right the capsized vessel, during which time the three officers were injured, police said. At around 12:30pm marine officers began towing the boat back to the George Town dock.
Senior management met with the families of the missing people yesterday afternoon to provide them with a full update, and they were also taken to the dock in George Town to see the vessel and speak with marine officers when they brought the boat back.
The RCIPS has come in for considerable criticism as a result of the delay in the start of the search and because of operational difficulties with staff and boats.
“Despite the criticism we have received, our marine officers and our air operations officers have been working tirelessly in this search,” said Police Commissioner David Baines. “I want them and every other officer who has been involved in this case, whether searching or providing care to victims, to know how much their efforts are noticed and appreciated.
“I also want to thank the volunteers who joined this search both on land and on sea. Our thoughts remain with the family of the missing. Their grief is evident and understandable. We will continue to do all we can to support them in the days and weeks ahead,” Baines added.
Category: Local News
Oh for god’s sake, just put a Caymanian in the CoP position, fill the force of locals and let them get on with it themselves. Good luck on a budget of CI$0 when the UK stops bailing you out.
Please name a single occasion that the UK ever bailed out the Cayman Islands?
Implementing the FFR!
I think this has started already
But then there would be no one to blame!
The truth of the matter is that Cayman does not have a real ocean search and rescue helicopter that can handle a combination of high winds, rain, darkness, rough seas and elongated time in the air.
It is both the UK and Cayman Islands Governments, not the RCIPS, that needs to be blamed. If they can’t afford to have the proper rescue helicopter and trained team for these types of situations, then they should have some contract in place with the US Coast Guard to send help asap as the US is our closest point of help. Just like how there is contracts for air ambulances to fly in and pick up people here and take them to Miami. The RCIPS is just an arm of the Government, they can’t do more than what they are given and trained for.
Blame both the UK and the Cayman Islands Governments for not caring enough about it’s people to have a proper search and rescue equipment and trained staff for these types of situations.
If you hire me to work for you, i can do no more than what you have given me to work with and trained me to do. It is the employers fault, in this aspect, the Governments are the Employers.
And remember still to thank Mr. Kernohan that we even have some kind of helicopter rather than none at all!
But he was stepping on corrupt toes in high authority places in this island so he got kicked out. But history doesn’t change, and the truth of history is it is because of Mr. Kernohan we even have this helicopter!
And how long will it take for WB road to get more lights in the dark spots where tourists keep getting hit down and run over and some killed? How long and how many injuries, disabilities and deaths did it take to even lower the speed lime throughout the years, and just now the speed limit is being lowered. But still a light/dark spots problem not solved yet even? Can you imagine how it felt when kids watched Dad being hit down and killed when coming back across the WB road from eating at a restaurant, can you imagine to this day the horrific trauma those now grown kids live with and their Mom with them watching her husband being run over and killed just because they went from the hotel room across the street to get food.
There is too much corruption in Government and that’s why they don’t solve obvious problems to help the people have a more high quality life. The Government is too busy being voodood and charmed by wealthy snake charmers. They can’t even see the simplicity of the things they need to do to give the people a good quality of life.
Thought officers and marine unit were supposed to risk their lives; it’s their job, no?
And they “should” be trained to handle the worst of situations, no?
20 knots, them boys in the USA see worse than that on a daily!
The RCIPS Marine Dept., needs experienced search and rescue individuals with years and years of experience who can conduct this operation and instruct proper guidance in maximizing resources which will result in lives being saved instead of the same rehearsed lines… our prayers are with the families! That’s not enough! How about, we acted promptly and other required resources were brought on-board immediately to ensure that there was no delay which prevented lives being lost. We have such individuals living here in the Cayman Islands and perhaps they could be approached to ask for assistance. Stop acting like this department is so well equipped because it certainly isn’t! A life is a life, there is no cost that can be put on it as it is priceless! Tap in to the wealth of knowledge and experience of those individuals living here in the Cayman Islands. A training course is good but hands-on experience along with guidance in an emergency situation will definitely have better chances of a positive outcome.
Delay is danger! Act now and be prepared for any emergency!
…A life is a life, there is no cost that can be put on it as it is priceless! …
But surprise! There we are.
The boards light up every budget season about the size of the police budget. And when they don’t manage to man 24/7/365 helicopter coverage with only one pilot we all act outraged.
I have to wonder what you actually know about the skills that are in the Marine Unit, or the levels of experience there, and is it that you simply enjoy the usual bashing without factual foundation that seems to prevail in Cayman Is. media?
I have over 22 years of US Coast Guard experience, with over 5 years as a Search and Rescue planner, and I can say with certainty than an 8 1/2 hour delay to get underway would not be acceptable by Coast Guard standards. I have gone out many times with the wind howling and seas raging at 20 plus feet, so you get a resource on scene for a first light search, also get a datum marker bouy in the water to determine set and drift. a helicopter might be a good resource once you know WHERE TO LOOK.
Mr. Baines why do you send the marine unit officers to the USA for further training at the Coast Guard academy , this would be better money spent than on new police cars.
I usually think your posts are nonsense Sharkey, but I agree with you here.
Or better still send them on road safety courses. This morning had stopped a motorist on the Cost U Less Roundabout. They were on the inner circle of the roundabout causing a hazard. It was unbelievable to see.
Actually this vehicle was not stopped by police, I drove past that roundabout and the vehicle was there and the hood was up, obviously broken down and parked in the inner lane. There was no police there at the time but It was reported in to police as a hazard and what you saw was a responding officer who came to assist in public safety and was not conducting a traffic stop.
Specially relevant comment for the beautiful brand new Discovery 4 that saw the other day in the road with Police tags. Now that is a luxury vehicle, would love to understand the rational behind that purchase
Dart donated it
It was given to them. Stay thirsty my friends
DART donated two Land Rover Discovery vehicles. Free car. Surely the police should accept that generous donation? THAT is being fiscally prudent.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2015/12/29/dart-donates-vehicles-to-special-constabulary/
They could have been rescued on Sunday night. We all know that. The excuses being given are just that…..EXCUSES. I will never trust the RCIPS again.
Stop blaming the police. It’s just not fair. Thank you Commisioner Baines for all the wonderful work you and your colleagues do.
And maybe if the alarm was raised earlier they could have been found, maybe if they had a radio, maybe if they had life jackets..the list is endless, what isn’t certain is being given vague details of where they might be in the dead of night and expected to be found. Even with the best will in the world if they went into the water at 4pm in rough seas with no equipment and an alarm raised 7 hours later there’s nothing certain about that. You can hope for an against the odds outcome but even if the Police went out at 11pm how do you expect them to find them?
This would never have never happen under Mr Derek Haines watch that’s for sure
Derek’s a great runner but I don’t think he could have swum all the way out there on his own.
it is sad when lives are lost under circumstances that could have been prevented or mitigated and to lay the blame entirely at the feet of the police is unfair. Firstly, did the adult sailors filed a report with the Port Authority that would have raised an alert if they had not returned within the expected timeframe that might have given a better time for survival and rescue? Secondly, were there life vests on board, especially with children on board? With an engine down and another boater offering to assist why didn’t they take him up on this offer and given the worsening sea conditions? This is a tragic loss for all the loved ones and they need our prayers, love and support – not incitement to hate and misplaced anger. May God continue to comfort them in time of enormous sorrow and grief.
Could this have been anything to do with an illegal activity and the children being used as a distraction?
Are you serious??? yes, that’s why people saw them all day on 12 mile bank fishing. SMH!!!!
That was not fishing conditions. No real fisherman would have gone out fishing that night. Not if they were trying to catch fish that actually swims.
How do we justify unjustifiable and incompetent conduct The fact is what ever mistakes or irresponsible actions taken by the boat crew is irrelevant and emergency is emergency we are duty bound to act, decisively and quickly to save lives. Those who get injured acting outside emergency conditions simply lack proper training. Blaming others because we failed to act is hypocrisy.
WOW…..Are we honestly trying to place blame on RCIP for this?
First for all you who are trying let’s clearly understand the landscape. FIRST….The boat should not have been out there PERIOD. SECOND…..if the captain wanted so badly to go out…..HE SHOULD HAVE GONE BY HIMSELF….Don’t risk the lives of kids and young adults. THIRD…..While I fully understand that there are RISK to working in the SAR Marine Unit NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT THEY WOULD COMMIT THEMSELVES TO VIRTUALLY CERTAIN DEATH OR INJURY!!!! NO ONE gets paid that well!!! NO ONE!!!
This is a truly sad situation putting aside the stupidity of them being out there to begin with. I feel for the mothers of these kids and adults. I ask myself how I would be if it were my children and I can see why the mother feels and expects what she does because she is a desperate mother fearing for her kids and rational thought processes go out the window during these times and I get that. Hell if I had to swim out there I probably would to find my children risking everything.
So for now let’s put aside the blame game and grieve with the mothers and offer them any comfort we can as they deal with this unspeakable tragedy.
God Bless them. Let’s keep them all in our prayers!!
Nobody is denying that there was a lot of foolishness involved in them going out in such weather without adequate safety provisions being made. However, what angers me and most people is the response time for starting the search and rescue. 9am the next morning in my mind, and a lot of people’s minds was too late! The point is the emergency services did NOT response quickly enough. They could have been found and lives could have been saved if the helicopter was sent out that night. It’s now being confirmed that a different flare was seen from Macabuca out towards the 12 mile bank vicinity. That implies that they were in fact still alive that night and waiting for rescue. THIS is why people are blaming the RCIPS. They left these people in the water overnight without a hope. That’s why people are so angry.
It doesn’t matter that they made the worst decisions of their life, what matters is that the EMERGENCY SERVICES DIDN’T DO THEIR JOB AND RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER!!!
Life boat services in other countries with worse weather than seen here go out to rescue people 24 hours a day in all types of weather. Some of the people they rescue need to be rescued because of unfortunate circumstances beyond their control, the majority of the people rescued are those that have made bad decisions. It is human nature, we all make bad decisions please lets not judge these poor unfortunate soles at this time. We should however be able to rely on the emergency services for assistance when we get into trouble, if the services are not equipped for search and rescue at sea in all weather conditions this is something that needs to be addressed immediately. This is a small island we should be allowed to enjoy the waters, hopefully make good decisions but in case we don’t we should be able to expect an immediate emergency response to help us.
Please also tell me the Marine Unit has all the equipment necessary to assist with a capsized vessel. My instinct is that they may not which might be why officers were injured.
I would also like to know if the chopper has a winch to aid with a rescue, I heard that they do not, I hope this is not true.
To all those that own boats, let this be a wake up call. if you get in distress out there, there is no rescue unless its blue skies on a nice summer day. So take precaution when going out there.
The good old Cayman Blame game. Bottom line is the owner of that vessel should not have made the choice to go out on that day in that boat with 750-850lbs of human ballast. That poorly maintained boat (engine) flipped because of bad weather conditions & poor piloting.
It flipped because that boat wasn’t seaworthy. Not even lakeworthy. Very unbalanced.
We all need to accept that the fully story of this tragedy will never be known. Everyone will have their own version of events and somewhere in between is the truth.
Perhaps it is human nature that when a tragedy happens, we all jump to conclusion and point fingers to comfort ourselves that something like this could never happen to us. Yet, we all know that we have made mistakes and did some really, really stupid things which, in hindsight, we were lucky we escaped unharmed and/or alive. Let’s keep that in mind!
My heart goes out to the families who have to deal with such tragedy. It is unimaginable having to endure such pain not knowing what exactly happened.
So as far as i can figure from the information out there. Just after 7 on sunday evening a flare was spotted and reported to 911 sw of macabuca restaurant. On this same evening somebody let off a flare for no reason in the rum point area. Police responded to the flare in rum point but there has been miscommunication and the flare sw of macabuca was never investigated. It seem like they were waiting till dark to let the flare go and the area would line up with the drift pattern of the boat?
Who from Macabuca called in a flare sighting on west side? Why have they taken so long to step forward to media with their story? CNS, please interview this person, if they exist.
Check cayman 27. They have been interviewed.
Exactly! I know the person who saw the flare SW of Macabuca and reported it.
People need to understand that two flares were set off at different points that night. One was investigated (the Rum Point fake one) and the the other one (Macabuca) was not. The police now are trying to cover this up by not even admitting they received a report of the flare from Macabuca.
The RCIPS have failed the people of this island miserably.
The police stated they never recieved the information from 911. Not that the call was not made. I believe this statement is carefully worded for a reason.
Just watched the interview on cayman 27 and the information is slightly different to what is circulating online. The gentleman said he saw the flare nw of macabuca. Not sw.
Im the commenter from 7 57 am and want clarify im not blaming anyone. It just seems that something took place that was avoidable. It also shows the consequences of what can happen when somebody does something that seems as trivial as lighting off a flare. If 2 flares at 2 points were set off that night then someone who set the fake flare is now living with a very heavy conscience.
The flare from Macabuca was investigated
“Air Support Unit Executive Officer Steve Fitzgerald said the weather conditions on Sunday night had ruled out using the police helicopter. With no moonlight, low cloud and rain, he said it would have been impossible, and against the aviation regulations, to send the aircraft out. He said the regulations governing when and how search and rescue aircraft could be used “pushed the boundaries” beyond what was acceptable for regular air traffic. But, he said, it was impossible to go out in the dark, with no horizon in sight.
“We have a thermal imager but that only goes so far. The pilot has to be able to see out the window,” he said.
“Even the U.S. Coast Guard would not be able to go out in those conditions,” he said.
BULL SHIT!!! As a former USCG ASM/AST, we went out in almost any conditions, any time of day or night, some, even in hurricane force winds.
Absolutely pathetic and unacceptable to not be able to send rescue in 20 knot winds and leave people out there overnight. unreal.
RCIPS lost one of their two pilots in late February – we have to assume he was IFR-rated. Current guy sounds like VFR only, given the narrative. Agree, it still doesn’t make sense. RCIPS must have an IFR-rated crew with 24/7 capability, or they expose a major flaw in the armor.
You may have gone out in almost any conditions, but you probably were in a larger and better equipped helicopter and with a full crew experienced in search and rescue. Different scenario altogether.
You are 100% correct.. We had a fully trained crew and the best equipment around. Semper Paratus… Always Ready..
The question is, IS the RCIPS?
So, why have an aircrew down here, if you cannot utilize it to the full extent? The police helo has FLIR. It could have thrown down flotations devices, beacons, etc. Does the RCIPS even have anything ready, even if it was day light? Do they have the capability of throwing out an inflatable life raft? Has anyone even given that a thought.. You cannot rely on the Marine Unit watercraft. How many do they have and how many are working, in the water, ready to mobilize at any given moment. It is very very sad, when you claim to be prepared, but no where close!…
You need to visit the guys at the Unit and see what they do and how prepared they are. You may be surprised how little b””’hit they have
What is very sad is when people like you start from a position of ignorance and simply extrapolate from there. You start out with garbage and end up with more garbage; speculation upon speculation, and all wrong. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Thank you Sir for confirming what we already knew… The police are full of it!
Maybe you did. But did the USCG ever send out a single helicpoter/boat/plane in bad weather without any equipment available to assist the occupants of that helicopter/boat/plane should they encounter problems? I don’t think so. Every organisation has rules to protect the searchers. But first of all, persons need to take precautions to protect themselves.
I will make one more comment, as the boat pictures I saw, when they brought back in did not have its back seat cushion still in place.. That could very well be a flotation device… So I hope they have not scrubbed the search…
Exactly. And to add insult to injury, the helicopter was in the air at the time the flare off Macabuca was reported. Baines needs to explain exactly why they did not investigate.
Maybe, we should now ask mother to assist us with a Search and Rescue force ( SAR) outfitted with a Westland Sea King HAR3A
The Duke of Cambridge (PrincevWillian ) piloted one of these rescue helicopter. SAR which conducted many North Sea rescues where gales blow 60 mph and waves are 30 feet high most the times. These helicopters can stand the test of any rough weather, of course we need brave pilots who can face our angry oceans. Prince Andrew was visiting at the time of this ordeal…would have been a good time to request such a service.
You are living in lala land. The UK has never donated or contributed anything of significance to the CI budget that involved money. And they never will. Cayman is considered affluent enough to buy their own stuff.
In theory then, the Cayman Islands should be able to meet the UN mandate and be self sufficient in its economy and determination.
Maybe with this information, the British public should include this in the June referendum along with the Island population, whether the Islands remain a British overseas territory.
Please educate us on what type and size of vessel you went out in “any conditions” .
As Thursday will be now more than 90 hours since the boaters entered the sea upon the foundering of their vessel, one would hope the RCIPS marine unit now moves the operation to ‘Search & Recovery’ from ‘Search & Rescue’. While both regrettable and further bad news for the already distraught families, realities need to be faced. Sea conditions will continue to be poor through to Saturday this weekend, posing real risk & hazards for conducting the continued offshore search operations
You say stop the blame game. Wow that is the biggest challenge to us Caymanians. Its in our DNA. I went to study overseas and learned the destructive nature of something I was brought up with.
While I agree with the sentiments above and do not want to blame the RCIPS, TRAINING is still a need with the RCIPS, when it comes to SAR (Search and Rescue) situations. Either you are going to have a Marine unit that can be in call and stand by for these rescues, or you are not. There have been some daft mistakes that I have witnessed over the last few years at their ineptness at trying to be;
they are not trained responsibly for.
It was never a rescue operation. Stop calling it that.
If I go missing at sea please tell them I’m out there trafficking drugs #instantrescue
I can’t beleive I am now reading on social media person now complaining about Police officers getting injured trying to search for these people.
These people need stop blaming the RCIPS, if these 3 adults had not gone out on the boat with the front coming in and small craft warnings in effect we would not be searching for these 2 innocent kids.
Let’s. Learn from this, we can make sure that next time you and or someone else.goes.out on a.boat fishing the right equipment is taken.
For those of you that don’t know a good weather site check out weather guru.
Stop the blame game!!!!
Do you mean wind guru?
Sorry wind guru. I must have been thinking about the weather. .
Subjective assumptions that the swimmers were already hypothermic or dead, couldn’t swim or buoy themselves with something other than a lifejacket, or somehow deserved what they got, are major contributors to this self-fulfilling outcome. That and the revisionist attempts from the RCIPS to cover up their already widely known ineptitude – however well-meaning, they aren’t up to task.
Yet you are blaming the three adults????
It is an unpalatable truth that three adult males took two children out to see in a boat with no life jackets. They did not inform the coast guard of their departure and arrival point nor did they inform their families. This is basic preventative stuff. They have paid heavily for their lack of safety and several families have been thrown into turmoil. Blaming will not help but we can learn and ensure that before ever going to see in our “fishing” vessels we check the weather forecast and give the sea the respect it deserves.
Thanks to the RCIP and Marine Unit. Sorry you had to risk your lives again.
Hope the families of those those lost at seas find peace.