The police say a high-level investigation is now underway into the circumstances
that led to the death of a 37-year-old woman and her 5-year-old son at Devil’s
Bridge, on Thursday morning.
According to reports, the two deceased individuals are part of a family of three,
including the husband, who survived the incident, visiting from Canada, and who
were scheduled to return home later in the day. However, it appears that the family
decided to travel from Seatons, where they were staying, to Devil’s Bridge.
The husband, who has not yet been named, said they had come to witness the
sunrise at Devils Bridge, when a wave got too close to his son who was standing at
the water's edge, causing him to panic.
The child held on to his mother's legs, and they both fell over the bridge.
According to police reports, the woman's 38-year-old husband, who is also from
Canada, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene, after he went into
distress while trying to save his wife and son.
While in the water the man experienced difficulties when he was said to have been
rescued by persons in the area.
A call was made to 911 at approximately 6:45 am which alerted both the Willikies
police station and the Coast Guard. Both agencies responded immediately. A coast
guard vessel was dispatched from St. John’s at approximately 7:00 am and it
arrived on the scene at Devil’s Bridge at 7:30 am.
The reports further indicated that the body of the woman was first retrieved from
the water and after the body of the son was not immediately found, a team of
divers from the coast guard went into the water to assist with the search. The boy’s
body was found shortly afterward at a nearby beach.
Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez visited the scene of the incident on Thursday
morning and personally extended his condolences to the father of the family
affected by the tragic incident.
Minister Fernandez expressed deep sadness at the loss and assured the public that
efforts are underway to enhance safety at the attraction.
He stated that his ministry is exploring measures to make the area safer, including
the potential implementation of rules restricting visits during certain hours.
The Minister emphasized the commitment to ensuring the well-being of everyone
who visits the popular site.
A police investigation will seek to answer the question of what exactly happened at
Devil’s Bridge on Thursday morning. Law enforcers are aiming to determine what
led to the mother and son ending up in the water at about 6:55 am.
The woman's distraught husband has since received grief counseling.
The police say the man will likely be required to remain in Antigua to provide
further assistance in their investigations.
