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UPDATE: 1 dead, 1 missing following boating accident near West End

A young boy has been rushed to hospital and a female was still missing at the time of publication, following a boating accident near Steele Point late afternoon, October 2, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
The boat involved in the accident at Steele Point on October 2, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
The boat involved in the accident at Steele Point on October 2, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
An ambulance departs West End this evening, October 2, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
An ambulance departs West End this evening, October 2, 2022. Photo: Team of Reporters
WEST END, Tortola, VI- WEST END, Tortola, VI- One person has died, and another person is still missing, following a boat accident near Steele Point Sunday afternoon, October 2, 2022.

According to reports reaching our newsroom, a 6-year-old girl who was taken to Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital died last night.

Other persons were reportedly taken to hospital with injuries.

Meanwhile, a search was on last night for a female who is missing.

Missing person

According to reports, the missing person is Krystal Black.

Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) led a search party last night for Ms Black, however, efforts to locate her were futile.

Police have confirmed the death and reports of the person still missing.

“Police can confirm the boating accident off West End, which has left one dead and one missing. Initial reports indicate that the one dead is a 6-year-old girl,” Police Media Liaison Officer Diane L. Drayton stated this morning, October 3, 2022.

According to reports, local divers have been summoned to assist in the search today.

Meanwhile, reports are that the boy taken to hospital last night is in a stable condition.

See previous article published October 2, 2022

Boy pulled from water, female missing in boat mishap @ West End

A young boy has been rushed to hospital and a female was still missing at the time of publication, following a boating accident near Steele Point late afternoon, October 2, 2022.

According to reports, the powerboat flipped, throwing the occupants overboard.

Reports are a boy was recovered from the waters and rushed to Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital in a 'critical' state.

A female, said to be the mother of the young boy, remained missing and search efforts were ongoing up to publication time.

A large number of people have converged at West End Ferry Terminal, some reportedly relatives and friends of the persons involved in the accident.

More details to follow.

81 Responses to “UPDATE: 1 dead, 1 missing following boating accident near West End”

  • Hannah’s (02/10/2022, 21:19) Like (50) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is so very sad. Hope the little boy will be alright
    but I already saw 3 ambulances passing in front of me back to town. There must be more injured. Let’s pray for them????????
  • vex (02/10/2022, 21:22) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    Oh gosh bad night
  • Gus (02/10/2022, 21:39) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    lots of screaming at the ferry dock
  • Not surprised (02/10/2022, 21:40) Like (34) Dislike (76) Reply
    Local captains are clueless about driving bots safely..blood on his hands
    • @not surprised (02/10/2022, 23:35) Like (91) Dislike (2) Reply
      Pump your brakes right there. I grew up on those waters sailing with real local captains all hours of the day and night. Pushing a throttle don't qualify you to call yourself a captain
    • Really??? (03/10/2022, 08:15) Like (15) Dislike (41) Reply
      Racist much?
  • Oh No (02/10/2022, 21:49) Like (54) Dislike (5) Reply
    I pray for the best results after such a horrible accident
  • tola (02/10/2022, 21:59) Like (56) Dislike (8) Reply
    We all need to pray hope they find them in Jesus name
  • LilyAnn (02/10/2022, 22:17) Like (94) Dislike (4) Reply
    Jesus lord, I hope that mom is washed up on a nearby land catching her breath. I know the family well, and I can't begin to stomach the possible grim outcome ... lord please let that mom be safe, and also her baby boy.
  • Anegada resident (02/10/2022, 23:28) Like (95) Dislike (11) Reply
    The BVI will always be considered a third world place to live because in this present day and age why are they no helicopters on stand by and ready for such unfortunate tragedy. We are surrounded by water yet if anyone needs to get immediate medical attention from any of the sister Islands, an air lift is not possible. All the brilliant minds that are responsible for Healthcare, yet we are still clueless. My prayers ???? goes out to all that was involved in that unfortunate accident.
    • ... (03/10/2022, 08:23) Like (27) Dislike (4) Reply
      All those millions they budget out and these chicken head politicians cant buy us some useful infrastructure that we wont have to beg others for rides on machines that probably dont even cost half a million.
      • Handel (04/10/2022, 03:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        Politicians and money can’t fix ignorance and irresponsibility.
    • Obvs (03/10/2022, 11:53) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well we’d have hundreds of millions more in government projects and infrastructure if it hadn’t been looted by successive governments as a matter of course. We can have all these things but the COI shows we keep choosing not to
    • ? (03/10/2022, 14:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The last aircraft the Government owned rusted because it was never maintained.
    • @ Anegada resident (03/10/2022, 16:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      100% on point
      serious thing!!!!
  • jack (02/10/2022, 23:38) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    God help us
  • Sammy (02/10/2022, 23:42) Like (5) Dislike (15) Reply
    Ah tired of these young persons getting liss out like listerine.
  • Hmm (02/10/2022, 23:54) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Intoxicated, hope they find whoever is missing
  • Hope4dbest (03/10/2022, 00:55) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do hope that this young lady and, child?are found safe. No one could possible experience the anguish coupled with fear that their parents, relatives, friends are griping them at this stage. They need our combined pray and support and would do so for a longtime according to the outcome of this horrible incident. I just want to ask a question. Were any of these persons especially the children wearing any form of floatation or other safety device?
  • salt life (03/10/2022, 01:54) Like (9) Dislike (18) Reply
    pana could of never bin speeding, pana had he family on board, check he by he self......but it wasnt today
    • @salt life (03/10/2022, 09:33) Like (41) Dislike (3) Reply
      Boats don’t flip unless they’re going pretty fast…
    • Local (03/10/2022, 12:26) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      @saltlife The boat doesnt have be speeding to flip , a little insight about inboards engines if one engine steering colum broke away it can cause the boat to do a 360 turn cause it to flip.
    • explain (03/10/2022, 12:33) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      So how does a boat flip if not speeding?
  • jesus (03/10/2022, 05:47) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    Father Jesus. Hope the mother found. I hate them speed boats. They are just not safe for me.
  • Yes (03/10/2022, 05:53) Like (61) Dislike (8) Reply
    Does that boy have a captain’s license, if not..the mother should have known better..but anyway the B.V.I have no laws when it comes to the sea, everyone is a captain.
  • @lilyAnn (03/10/2022, 06:13) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Amen!!!
  • So sad (03/10/2022, 06:28) Like (78) Dislike (1) Reply

    This is so sad and avoidable. Everyone should have life jackets on at night and if you can't swim don't go on the boat without one.

  • Anny (03/10/2022, 06:30) Like (73) Dislike (0) Reply
    Life jackets save life. Sea water is not something to play with. Sea have rule just like on the road.
  • Stopit (03/10/2022, 06:31) Like (34) Dislike (4) Reply
    Stay off the water with idiots who have no regard for human life
  • old (03/10/2022, 06:45) Like (38) Dislike (1) Reply
    These boat drives are not captain.. Call them boat drivers. Speeding is not captain
  • Ho,ho (03/10/2022, 06:57) Like (37) Dislike (4) Reply
    We saw them going full speed from home
  • big show (03/10/2022, 07:14) Like (80) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is sad to see how many young men in the BVI own boats and don’t have a clue how to operate them all they know is this is the throttle and the is wheel throttle all the way forward wheel left and right don’t know when to pull back if a head on collision present itself they don’t know whether to turn left or right they don’t even use their initiative and say let me go to the college and at least take a basic navigation course they are out there just clueless and the reality is the occupants absolutely clueless to the fact that these guys have no idea what they are doing and the follow them for the sake of love and boom this guys from someone who knows better go to the college and take a course for the love of God
  • Wise Owl (03/10/2022, 08:02) Like (53) Dislike (2) Reply
    I have come to realize that the young generation today is about speed. Fast life = faster death. If you are going across the waters to party/have fun, or just joy riding, use common sense wear safety life west, don't drink alcohol, and have a designative driver/captain. These few things can save lives.
  • pst (03/10/2022, 08:09) Like (36) Dislike (1) Reply
    Things happen. But we could avoid a lot of things. If listen to other people's.
  • Observer (03/10/2022, 08:20) Like (107) Dislike (2) Reply
    At 53 I went to the college did the STCW and written test and passed.
    I then went to the shipping register and did the map course passed and was interviewed by Capt. Patt for 1hour and 30 minutes on hazards and on what to do at sea and got my license.
    There are persons operating boats and they don’t have a clue how sail a vessel especially at night.
    There might be floating object in the water that you cannot see with naked eyes. Some of these operators use the land to sail and others use makers by way of lights on a number of hills.
    If you have your family onboard you should and must take all precautions to take them home safely.
  • heart broken (03/10/2022, 08:31) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is very sad.
  • Grandma (03/10/2022, 09:31) Like (55) Dislike (0) Reply
    I see some adults taking their minor children to every event on the waters, including Poker Run and it scares me for this very reason. My heart aches for the parents and grandparents in this situation. Please leave the children on dry land when going on these fast boats.
  • JA (03/10/2022, 09:49) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    How much persons were on that boat
  • smdh (03/10/2022, 09:55) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    It's so sad to see adults behave in such an irresponsible manner, which in most time put our children in harms way, woooow this is VERY sad.
  • Mr.gage (03/10/2022, 09:56) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    My sincere condolences????????
  • Haunted Sea. (03/10/2022, 11:19) Like (15) Dislike (10) Reply
    That west end water is haunted waters, so many fatal accidents.The Devil lives there. It's our version of the Bermuda triangle...Brother Blakx my friend. My deepest sympathy..
  • Concerned (03/10/2022, 11:35) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Being on these pleasure boats without life jackets is like sky diving without a parachute. The captain should be charged for man slaughter. Simply!
    • Yesssss...... (03/10/2022, 20:49) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      .....but who is there to charge them? What about the captain who killed our dear Frandi Martin a few months back. Did he ever get charged? Or the American captain who killed a tourist of Guana Island? I don’t think so. Very very sad. My heartfelt condolences to the entire Black’s family ????
  • Albert (03/10/2022, 11:35) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    100 % manslaughter !!!!
  • Sam (03/10/2022, 11:37) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
    This person.have no experence be cause around there have reef he needs to be lock up
  • y (03/10/2022, 11:39) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    @ja much is money ( it is how many people were on the boat)
  • You see (03/10/2022, 11:41) Like (37) Dislike (2) Reply
    bvi customs and shipping registry were shutting down charter companies for not having the right type of life vest on board but local boats out there free
  • smh (03/10/2022, 12:27) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    This boat had on more than 10ppl i could bet he don't have 10 life jacks onboard and have kids onboard trying to do a 100.....STOP PLAYING WITH PPL LIVES
  • jail (03/10/2022, 12:36) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    The boat driver needs to be held accountable, they need to be in jail
  • Stop looking credit (03/10/2022, 12:39) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    To the young ladie who say she jump back in the water to remove king! U need stop looking credit for something you did not do! The capt of awesome is who jump back in the Water for him !
    • Hmm (04/10/2022, 08:54) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      she say she could not swim so someone had to jump in to save save her again and the boy.
  • Mr. Hodge (03/10/2022, 13:10) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    As an avid boater, my priority is always to make sure that friends, family and loved ones have a good time on the water and get back safely. A captain’s nightmare is to know that someone was injured or worse on his watch. Heavy hearted and burdened for all concerned. Praying for comfort and peace. Lord knows
  • Lily Ann (03/10/2022, 13:51) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. We all learn from something, stop victim blaming. I did a few sail cats with diff captains, and that cross tide between steel and Normal is a force of nature. Imagine the captain had to throttle down to snail speed and still maneuver the rudders to keep on a straight tack against the challenging cross tide..... muchless for a boat under moderate speed. MY gosh. Please boaters, moving forward. Let's all stock up on Life Vests and insist that your riders put them on whenever they enter your boat. I'm not blaming anything or anyone......because we all believe our practices are safe until something happens. Let all do everything we can to be safe moving forward !!!
  • Will not pass judgement (03/10/2022, 14:54) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a mom of two, SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY. PLEASE, IF YOU ARE TAKING YOUR CHILDREN ON THE WATER, PLEASE PUT A SAFETY VEST ON YOUR CHILDREN, PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN A CAR SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, PLEASE STOP HAVING CHILDREN RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF VEHICLE. STOP PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR CHILDREN’S LIVES. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE 6 YEAR OLD WHO DIED AND I HOPE THE MISSING LADY IS FOUND.
    • Another Parent (03/10/2022, 17:11) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Will not pass judgement, I am in agreement with your comment. I would highly agree that if you are taking your children out on the water they should be wearing a safety vest. I would also agree small children should always be in a car seat or booster seat not on a persons lap in a moving vehicle. I once got flipped the bird and was told to mind my business when I saw a child no more than 7 years old standing holding on to the dashboard of the car while his mother was driving, I got the mother’s attention and point to the child and said that is very dangerous. That is when she flipped me the bird and told me to mind my business and sped off with the child still standing up holding on to the dash board.
  • RaqVI (03/10/2022, 14:56) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    I pray she is found. This is so heartbreaking ????
  • Sad (03/10/2022, 15:20) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sending plenty Hugs and Blessings to all involved...
  • Andrew Cox Sr (03/10/2022, 15:37) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    my sympathy to all family members and friends
  • flUffy (03/10/2022, 16:36) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    My thing is EVERY AND ANY YOUNG MAN IN THE BVI HAVE A SPEEDBOAT...NOOOO DAM LICENSE(STCW) OR OTHERWISE...SOME OF THEM DONT WORK ..DONT LIVE NO WHERE..YET THEY OWN A SPEEDBOAT.WHO REGISTERS OR CHECKS TO SEE IF THESE VESSELS ARE REGISTERED? IBUT EVERY WEEK THEY TAKE TO THE HIGH SEAS!! KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT THE WATERS THEY ARE IN..After situations like these they will take a hiatus of of few weeks...then back at it full steam !!! Its about time we satart doing things the proper way..SLEEP ON IN ETERNAL REST LITTLE ANGEL(...AND Krissy hope you are found soon so that there will be closure...THINGS NEED TO CHANGE AND THE CHANGE SHOULD START WITH US!!.GUYD GET YOUR LICENSES..GET YOUR VEDT AND FLOATATION DEVICES..DONT OVERLOAD YOUR PERSONAL CRAFTS...PLEASE BE SAFE..LIVES ARE DEPENDING ON YOU....????
    • No where to park boats (04/10/2022, 00:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @flUffy, I agree. Look at the West End Community Parking Lot. It has become a beastly site overflowing with SPEED BOATS. When attending meetings, parking is a nightmare. That area needs to be tidied up.

      Prayers and condolences to all the family members.
  • Lily Ann (03/10/2022, 17:13) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    If he's charged with Manslaughter, then Frandi killer should be charged as well. Despite urine sample of intoxication or not.....
    • @Lily Ann (03/10/2022, 18:22) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      have you forgotten there were two boats in the Frandi incident so there is an evaluation to determine who was at fault. in this situation there was only 1 boat and the captain flipped it right? unless there were four different captains on that boat, responsibility should be a bit easier to ascertain.
      • LilyAnn (03/10/2022, 19:53) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
        I DONT CARE....DEATH was a result of both incidences. Both captains are alive. SO therefore should be held accountable.
  • WOWWWW (03/10/2022, 17:42) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Things don’t look good for the missing lady. Sooooo sad.
    • LilyAnn (03/10/2022, 19:51) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      I long Suspect she got knocked out and sank. This is so sad and horrible
  • Ut (03/10/2022, 18:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have a ? For the minister of tourism is it ok ror those speed boats to be up and on the sea like Manuka there no law for them it is a sham ñou man
  • vi (03/10/2022, 19:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s sad can’t comment
  • Bless the cap (03/10/2022, 22:16) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    I just hope the captain won't be hold accountable for this we all know he was the captain we all know he's responsible, we all know he had to be speeding....but I'm sure they were out there enjoying their time thinking they could dock up safe n enjoy the rest of the night but things happen....I'm sure he's thinking about them
    • reality (04/10/2022, 11:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      his recklessness caused the lives of two innocent people. by racing with children on board, he showed no concern for their lives. he should be held accountable.
  • Boy Boyg (04/10/2022, 01:45) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    We killing our own people. When not Gun is boat.what happened to us..we need a turn around .we have enough of this .my peoples.
  • reality (04/10/2022, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    More a recovery search at this moment rather than a rescue mission
  • Lawenda (05/10/2022, 13:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So ????. We must take precautions the outcome would have been different. May they both rest in eternal peace. Let it be warning to others to take safety precautions when they operate these boats, etc.


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