Paget Farm, Bequia boy dies

A Paget Farm family is trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of an 11-year-old boy, who was swept away two days ago, following torrential rains that have been affecting much of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Phillip Compton, a Form 1 student of the Bequia Community High School, met a watery end last Wednesday, as he was accompanying his father to check on his grandmother, who lives near to the family in the close-knit community of Derrick Hill, Paget Farm, Bequia.

Speaking with SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, the deceased boy’s mother, Gillian Compton, said that the family is devastated, as he was the youngest of her three children.{{more}}

“Everybody crying; they taking it on. So, I don’t know – we going need help,” she lamented.

Gillian recalled that on the day of the incident, her son had been indoors for most of the morning doing school work and watching television, as schools nationwide had been closed because of the trough system affecting the island.

“I was in the kitchen there doing me work in the morning… and he was there all the time lie down here,” she recounted, gesturing to the living room couch.

As she had been busy in the kitchen, Gillian had not been aware that her son had left the house, until her daughter rushed back to the family home to inform her of the accident.

“When them girls come, they telling me Phillip wash way!”

She explained: “His father went out, and my son went out to assist. So, when he left now and going up by his grandmother and go fuh cross the water, the water lick him back… It send him straight into the gutter and is down dey they find him by ‘Noo-Noo’ dey.”

Gillian, who is a trafficker, said that the loss of her only son is so shocking and sudden that she has had a headache ever since it happened. She also said that the boy’s father Darwin Compton – who suffers from ‘the bends’ – is very upset because he was with Phillip when the accident occurred.

“Every minute, he keeps crying.”

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined, several neighbours who saw the boy’s body after it was retrieved from a rocky area further downhill, pointed out that there were visible signs of serious trauma about his body.

The boy’s mother also mentioned that when Phillip was knocked over, a neighbour tried to save him by grabbing onto his ‘hoodie’ (zip-front sweater). However, the attempt was futile as the boy’s wet body slipped out of the garment, and was swept underground then back into the open by a deluge of rapidly flowing water.

“Everybody come out when they hear this thing take place… everybody came out to help search for him,” recounted Gillian.

She also told SEARCHLIGHT that she is grateful that her son’s body was recovered, and she is overwhelmed by the support she has received from community members.

The grieving family was also visited by Member of Parliament for the Northern Grenadines Dr Godwin Friday and deputy director of Grenadines Affairs Herman Belmar, after the incident occurred, who offered their support and expressed condolences.

Speaking fondly of her son, Gillian said that he loved fishing and was passionate about drawing – hoping to pursue a profession where he could utilize his artistic skills. She also disclosed that he would have celebrated his 12th birthday on November 22; so, she is hoping to hold a candlelight vigil for him on that date.

The deceased’s body is currently at the morgue on mainland St Vincent, and an autopsy is scheduled to take place today.

Once the body is released to the family, a date for his funeral will be decided on and will take place at the Christian Fellowship Assembly Church. (JSV)