Tragedy on Grand Anse Beach

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Parent Category: Oct 2011

Category: Week ending Oct 29th, 2011

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A day of fun at the world’s famous Grand Anse Beach ended in tragedy for a 16-year old student of the Presentation Brothers College (PBC).

 The body of Chris Joseph was pulled out of the water last Friday after his friends with whom he was swimming noticed that he went missing.

 The students were on the beach enjoying themselves on Friday in celebration of their mid-term holiday.

 The distraught PBC boys sought the assistance of one of the lifeguards on the beach who discovered Joseph lying face down in the bottom of the water.

 A well placed source told THE NEW TODAY newspaper that the youngster did not die due to drowning.

 The source who does not wish to be identified said that Joseph could be described as one who is a juvenile hypertension, was suffering from a bad lung and as a result had a rupture of a blood vessel in his brain that cut off oxygen causing him to die while being in the sea water.

 “The autopsy revealed that he was very sick on the inside,” the source said.

 The source disputed reports that the school boys were engaged in consuming alcohol while on the beach, saying that there was no trace of alcohol in Joseph’s system.

 This newspaper learnt that on the day of the tragedy, Joseph’s mother, Nellie-Ann ‘Warren’ Joseph had just paid her son’s exam fees.

 Principal of the school, Dominic Jeremiah confirmed to this newspaper that Joseph was due to write six CXC subjects next year.

 Jeremiah believes that the loss will be very significant to the school which is located on Old Fort Road, St. George’s.

 He said the entire faculty and staff are trying to cope with the sudden death, particularly those who were on the beach with him.

 The PBC Principal said immediately after news reached the school of Joseph’s death counselors were brought in to work with some of the Form Five students.

 He said it is possible that the school will have to tell the Form Fives’ to use the tragedy as a motivation for them to do well in the upcoming exams.

 “We’re going to try to use this as a way to motivate them to excel and to do their very best,” he added.

 Jeremiah described the 16-year old Form Five Student originally from Springs but who also resided at Mont Toute, St. George’s as being pleasant, jovial and very friendly.

 He said although Joseph came through a “very hard time” from Form One To Form Five, he had just settled down.

 The New Today Newspaper learnt that he begun to show an interest in journalism.

 The PBC Principal said he recalled telling Joseph the Thursday before he left school that he had the potential to become one of the best Journalists in the Caribbean.

 “He used to do all our jingles for us when we had sports... He was very interested in journalism,” he remarked.

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