TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Dinghy drowning..

The wires are reporting a death off Great Harbour, JVD around midnight last night.Seems the victim was solo in a dinghy that was found circling on its own.The victim suffered head wounds and was pronolunced dead. This is a very seriious reminder about dinghy safety at all times. So sad. Chances are he went overboard and was hit by his own boat..maybe showing the importance of a kill switch tethered to your wrist.

Importance to attach (also test it by pulling it out when checking out dinghy for the first time at charter base)

Latest story says he might have hit a downed tree in the water. Yikes,

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/tourist-dies-in-boating-accident-jvd/

There is a big downed tree 100 yards off Foxy’s dock. I witnessed a very drunk group board a dinghy and head right at it. They made a wild swerve and missed it but threw one person out of the dinghy they had to retrieve.

That's crazy. The story said it was near Foxy's. Some of the comments posted below the story say that tree has been there since Irma. Pretty sad if true. Seems this tragedy could have been prevented. At the very least some sort of marker or lighting could have been put on it, especially knowing people are drinking and leaving Foxy's in the dark.

Dinghy operation:

1) Speed appropriate for conditions
2) SLOW in dark
3) Kill Switch lanyard
4) Good flashlight at night (To see and be seen). Cellphone lights are inadequate.
5) Alcohol can impair judgement and physical ability
6) personal floatation devices (especially if going outside mooring field)
7) Handheld VHF recommended (especially if going outside mooring field)

Great reminder on proper dinghy op Wes. Boating comes with many unknown hazards, and operating a dinghy at night requires extra caution, slow speeds and proper lighting as you illustrated (we wear specialty headlamps) The key is safe operation (which has so many facets).

Switch number 5 to number 1 and change can to will and you nailed it!

I have red and green flashlights for my 8' dinghy. Used them in Copper Harbour after a dinner but doubt that anybody noticed them. Having been to the BVI they would be a good idea for the chaos I've observed.

GeorgeC1

You are absolutely correct. Excessive alcohol is often the leading factor in most of these accidents.

Seems to me that with all the money foxy is making he could arrange to move the tree. If I had a large tree near my dock I sure would move it.

Of course this is a horrible tragedy that I hope is a learning point for at least one person but I guess I'm the only one that likes the tree. It has been there so long that it is part of nature now. There are all sorts of organisms that have now made that tree home. It's not like it is underwater or hard to see. This is human error. It could have been a small fishing boat sitting there in the water that he hit.

So right

I kind of like the tree also! There is a white light that is lit on it sometimes at night.

I helped pull a couple from the water in Soper's Hole a couple decades ago. Both bounced from the dinghy and when the dinghy did the tight turn while still on plane, the prop went right across his chest, As we pulled him out of the water a doctor rushed over from Pussers and literally put his hand into the guys chest ... I went a couple steps away and vomited. And it only got worse as the Helicopter coming in from San Juan hospital couldn't even get close to where the guy was and his wife spoke very broken English and she wasn't able to tell us his blood type.

I don't need to be so graphic, but if makes at least one parent make sure their child connects the kill switch to their body, then mission accomplished. My wife and I rented a dinghy from the scuba joint in Great Harbor a couple weeks ago .. no tether available and the switch has been re-wired. Then the guy renting the dingy to us tells us to be careful how fast we go as we may get bounced out. Just makes my head spin ...

The tree has been removed and is laying on dry land.