Student jumps off wharf, drowns

The Jones family of Campden Park and students of the Community College are trying to come to grips with the tragic death of one of their loved ones – a son, a brother, a friend.

Last Saturday, Sherwin Jones, a 20-year-old student who formerly attended the St.Vincent Grammar School died in the waters of the Campden Park Port in the wee hours of the morning.{{more}}

His father, Robert Jones, recalling the fateful drama said his wife, Patricia Jones, Sherwin’s mother awoke sometime between 3:00 and 3:15 a.m. and saw the young man in the living room with his Bible.

“He was praying loud during that time. I got up and I heard him saying, ‘I love the Lord and the Lord love you’. He was jumping up and he was saying so to the top of his voice,” said the grieving father.

Robert recalled that Sherwin opened the door and went out into the porch.

“My belief was that after he exhausted himself he will come in,” Robert added.

He claimed that while sitting on his bed his wife informed him that their son had run out into the rain and was heading down the road.

Two of Sherwin’s friends were immediately contacted, said the father, but Sherwin was not at their homes. One of the friends joined the father in search of Sherwin.

“We started driving slow and were looking for him. We went to the corner of the port where we saw three guards who told us they saw him. They claimed that he passed through the gate and run towards the wharf. They said they ran behind him and called out to him. He turned and was coming towards them. Subsequently, he turned back, squeal out and jump overboard,” said Robert.

A police press release said Sherwin’s body was recovered from the sea by the Coast Guard later that day.

A post mortem examination is expected to be carried out on the body to ascertain the cause of death.

Three of Sherwin’s friends who attend the Community College, Mikhail Charles, Joezel Williams and Mellisa John, reminisced that the A’level student was a motivator who had always lent support to them in times of need.

“The class will never be the same without Sherwin. Even if you did bad on a test he always said something to motivate you. I will miss him and everyone in the class will, because he was very inspiring and had a great impact on the lives of students,” said Mellisa.

Joezel recounted that Sherwin always spoke of his experience with God. “He always had a smile. It was not a fake one, it always came from his heart.”

Mikhail, a friend of Sherwin for the past six years, a friendship that goes back to when they attended the St.Vincent Grammar School, said although his friend “was down” at school on Friday, December 2, he still had an encouraging word for everyone.

“It is just a great loss,” said Mikhail, adding, “we have lost one of the most positive youths I have ever known”.