BVI News

Boat captain drowns at Norman Island on Sunday

Photo Credit: VISAR

A boat captain of a well-known charter company has reportedly drowned while on duty at Norman Island.

BVI News understands that the incident occurred sometime between 12:30 pm to 1 pm on Sunday, June 23.

“He was at work and sadly his guests had to witness that,” Vice President of Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) Phil Aspinall told BVI News.

Aspinal said when members of VISAR responded at the scene where the victim’s unresponsive body was recovered, they performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation without success.

The body was subsequently brought to Tortola and transported to the Dr D Orlando Smith hospital in Road Town.

The name of the victim has not yet been made available.

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36 Comments

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  1. Truth says:

    Its Peebles Hospital. Get it right.

    Like 52
    Dislike 24
    • Hmmm says:

      Truth: you could have used that data to send love and condolences to the family. The fact you only focus on a building says that you have the ratchet mindset. You’re stuck in life.

      Like 37
      Dislike 28
    • Clueso says:

      Orlando Hospital? Is that affiliated with Orlando Air (BVI Airline)? What is going with the audit of our investment in dat airline? We need answers and the whistleblower law we were promised.

      Like 19
      Dislike 21
      • Navigator says:

        Wait…are you for real. Someone die and you are concern over a name of a BUILDING? If it was YOUR FAMILY MEMBER THAT DIE and read your mess…May God be with you…you corpse

        Like 32
        Dislike 4
    • Renaming of Hospital says:

      My condolences to the family during their time of grief.

      The article is correct:

      SIXTH SITTING OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE THIRD HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS (15 January, 2019):

      * AND WHEREAS Cabinet, in accepting the recommendation of the said Committee, decided that a) “Peebles Hospital” be re-named “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital” in recognition the pioneering efforts of DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE to improve healthcare for the residents of the Virgin Islands and that b) a Draft Resolution concerning the said re-naming of “Peebles Hospital” be introduced by way of a motion for approval by Members of the House of Assembly. 


      NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands approves the re-naming of “Peebles Hospital” to “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital” and that “Peebles Hospital” be henceforth known as “Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital” .

      Cabinet Decision of 16 January, 2019 and published by the Cabinet Office on 6 February, 2019:

      Decided that the Peebles Hospital be renamed the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital in recognition of his pioneering efforts to improve healthcare for the residents of the Virgin Islands and that a Resolution be introduced by way of a motion for approval by Members at the next convenient sitting of the House of Assembly. Cabinet also agreed with the recommendation that the wing of the hospital campus, that is located on the original site, retain the name of Major Peebles.

      Like 17
      Dislike 6
  2. Chris says:

    When a passenger drops anything overboard, mark the position with bearings and the GPS and call a local diver for assistance. These sad tragedies should be avoided. So sad.

    Like 29
  3. @Truth says:

    No; u dead wrong; it is D. Olando Smith Hospital and Medical Centre. U get it right.

    Like 9
    Dislike 15
  4. Mr. Hodge says:

    My condolences thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the captain and the clients who had to witness the tragedy

    Like 29
  5. Mr Shovels says:

    A man died and these toxic-minded people can only focus on the name a building smh…

    Like 25
    Dislike 5
  6. Respect The Ancestors says:

    It Is Peebles Hospital, Named in honor of Mr. Van Peebles.
    Dr. Smith been a serving Doctor and dedicated to the BVI all is life but if they want to honor Dr. Smith by all means go ahead but at least respect Mr. Van Peebles who also devoted to the Hospital. It was first named Cottage Hospital and later renamed Peebles Hospital.

    Like 21
    Dislike 7
  7. Who is right or wrong... says:

    As far as I know, a floor or unit of the hospital was to be named in honor of Dr. Smith and the Hospital would retain the name ‘Peebles Hospital’.
    People die everyday so what if the bloggers want to debate the name of the hospital.

    Like 4
    Dislike 11
  8. Confucius says:

    My apologies for almost all of the above and condolences to the family and friends of the gentleman who passed away.

    Like 25
  9. Exp says:

    VISAR is the most important non-gov organisation in the BVI. Thanks for helped him to have a dignity to go to the hospital.

    Like 26
    Dislike 4
  10. LOL-WOW says:

    You all take an article about someone’s tragic death and turn it into a debate about whether or not the Hospital should be named after Dr. Smith…..???? wow.

    Like 17
    • @LOL-WOW says:

      Exactly! It’s incredible how shallow minded people can be. Everything is political in this place. The first blogger about the name of the hospital and all who responded to the clown might have thought it more considerate to use another forum for such a debate.
      Do they have any idea what our family is going through right now? To get a call with news like this? very heartless to say the least.

      Family stay strong, ignore the negatives and think about the positives during this challenging and grieving time

      Like 14
  11. CW says:

    These comments show why the BVI is failing so badly at literally everything but tourism. Selfish, greedy, hateful and narrow-minded comments.

    FIGHTING ON THE INTERNET IS LIKE RUNNING IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS: YOU MIGHT WIN BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ARE STILL RETARDED!!!!!

    STRUPES ARGUING OVER THE NAME ON A BUILDING

    SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR AN INNOCENT DEATH

    Like 13
    Dislike 4
  12. Anonymous says:

    Idiots

  13. Wow says:

    Welcome to Bvi
    Incredible ( stupidines)

  14. true says:

    any news on who the captain was?

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