Teenager in close shave with death

Terrence Harry was this week still recovering after a near brush with death.{{more}}

Harry, a 19-year-old fifth form student of the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia (EHSM), had to be taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Kingstown after encountering complications while bathing at Saline Bay off the Grenadine island of Mayreau last Saturday, May 1.

Students and some members of staff of the school had journeyed to that island on an excursion.

The drama unfolded shortly after 10 a.m.

Eyewitnesses told SEARCHLIGHT that Harry was in the water and began making gestures as though he was having difficulties.

Two persons dove in the water to assist the seemingly troubled youth, only to discover that the boy was joking.

Sometime later, the eyewitness said that Harry again started making gestures that he was having difficulties.

“We see him like he been ah bubble,” one eyewitness recounted.

This time, however, no one made any attempt to rescue the boy, eyewitnesses said.

Sources told SEARCHLIGHT that some men on a nearby boat came to the student’s rescue after it was discovered that he was having legitimate problems.

Principal of the EHSM, Curtis Greaves, confirmed this, adding that the student was administered CPR by a young woman before being rushed to Union Island.

Harry was eventually taken to mainland St Vincent for further medical assistance.

Details as to how the student found himself in difficulty are unclear. However, according to other students, it is alleged that Harry was consuming alcohol.

When questioned, Greaves said that he was unable to confirm whether this allegation was true.

He did note that extra precautions had been taken and students were told that alcohol, illicit drugs and weapons were prohibited on the trip.

This information was also clearly printed on the tickets sold for the event.

“This was a very unfortunate accident,” Greaves said, giving his reaction to the incident.

The school’s administrator said that he did not anticipate that the trip, which is a staple on the school’s calendar of events, would be discontinued.

He added that the trip was aimed at giving the student body an opportunity to journey to and discover something new about their country.

According to Greaves, in the 25 years since the inception of the annual excursion, this is the first time such an incident had taken place.

“What it will do is to put in place more planning and for more supervision,” the principal explained. (DD)