What started as an outing with friends, ended in tragedy when Nigerian medical student, Michael Odu , passed away on Emancipation Day after drowning,
An eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous told ANN that they were at the popular site Fort Duvernette also known as Rock Fort.
The eye witness explained that there were two groups who went to RocK Fort, one took a water taxi to the site while others chose to come over using their own boat.
“The water was quite calm, people eventually came over sightseeing in transparent canoes and were even snorkeling just in the passage between Young Island and Rock Fort. It was during this time a group of persons left and took a shallow path over to the back of Young Island. All of the persons who made the trip got there safely while the other members of that group were talking and making the most of the day out,” the eyewitness explained.
Following this they said that someone noticed Odu who was using the shallow passage to Young Island facing some difficulties.
The eyewitness added that the water that was previously calm now had a “gnarly” looking rip-tide which pulled Odu further away from the group.
“It was at this point that people started exclaiming and shouting to the other members of the group who were also struggling to some extent. The coastguard was immediately called due to the nature of the events that were ongoing. After hearing our mixed cries, despite struggling themselves, other members of the group swam to his assistance.”
They noted that one of the persons who tried to assist Odu was also dragged down by the rip-tide and had to be rescued by another member of the group.
Following this, they were able to get Odu out of the water and drag him to the small beach behind Young Island where they tried to administer CPR.
“ A member of the 2nd group also went to assist. As we looked on from a distance the captain of the small boat moored at the jetty came over and rushed to where the man’s motionless body was with the persons that were working tirelessly performing CPR,” the eyewitness said.
They noted that why they worked tirelessly to save Odu, it was too late.