USVI-On-Line

I am notorious about going off to snorkel on my own and my husband is frequently furious at me for being so overly confident.

Unfortunately this episode is a warning to all of us to ALWAYS have a snorkel buddy with you at all times.

I hate it when hubby is right!

So sad....

Drowning Reported at Honeymoon Beach
Written by Tradewinds Staff
Thursday, 04 June 2009 13:36

V.I. Police Department St. John Deputy Chief Darren Foy reported that a 65-year-old female tourist apparently drowned on Honeymoon Beach on St. John on Wednesday, June 4.

Police were dispatched to that location just before 12 p.m. June 4 and encountered a woman unresponsive on the beach.

The victim was identified as Linda Padgett of North Carolina, who was staying at Bluebeard’s Beach Club on St. Thomas.
VIPD officials said Padgett and her husband were on a tour that stopped at the beach to snorkel. Sometime later the husband returned to the boat and Padgett continued snorkeling. According to witnesses someone began shouting for help and Padgett’s body was subsequently pulled from the water.



St. John Rescue transported the victim to the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center where she was pronounced dead by medical staff. According to EMS there were no visible signs of trauma to the body. The victim suffered from arthritis, high blood pressure and fibromyalgia and was taking several medications, according to Foy.

The case will be followed up by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

A sad story indeed...sympathy to her family.

Gromit, you are so right in your warnings...many do the same thing.

oh how awful. the husband must be devastated.

That is sooooo sad. I feel so bad for the family.
Being in paraise, so happy, I just couldn't imagine the sadness.

I've had three encounters myself and that's why we wear vests now.

In Cayman my husband panicked and pulled me down.

On Sapphire Beach, I got cramps in both feet and I swallowed some water.

Another time on Sapphire, a friend (a big guy) was really struggling to the point that I took off my vest and gave it to him. I don't know if that was good or not, but I did what I had to do.

It's just so sad.

That is so incredibly sad!

I am not an extremely strong swimmer, and have been faced with a panic attack in the water on a a couple of occasions, so I always use a flotation device or some type...vest, belt, noodle, etc. I especially use caution in St. John when I am often the only snorkeler at a beach. My husband does not snorkel...he can't swim...so no rescuer for me there. But, this goes to show that it can happen even when you are with a snorkel group.

My heart goes out to this gentleman.

This is a tragic story.

I am not a strong swimmer and always wear a vest. My hubby however is a very strong swimmer and never wears a vest. He usually goes back out alone and snorkles in the late afternoon while I'm napping. Still refusing to wear a vest. I don't know what, if anything happened one day, out alone, while heading around Marys Point alone, but he wore an inflatable vest everyday after that without me fussing at him. It made me feel better to just know that if he needed to, he could quickly inflate it.

Very sad. The last few times we have been on "snorkel boats", the operators have required everyone to wear snorkel belts. I think that is very wise. Even good swimmers (myself) have been known to panic when snorkling for the first time. It totally freaked me out, it is a totally different sensation to breathe through a snorkel. And a lot of the people on these excursions have been drinking.

My husband also does not wear one and it really worries me. Of course he is a great swimmer. But you never know what kind of trouble you can encounter. He goes out with my older daughter, who I insist has to wear a vest. She barely inflates it, but she can do it quickly.

It is one thing if you are a good swimmer and snorkeling in a familiar and busy area, but another thing if you are going way out alone, around points, etc...

Too tragic!

I am a strong swimmer and confident in the water and I still won't snorkel more than an arms length away from my hubby. Usually I am holding his hand. I know so romantic ... not so much ... I just feel more secure with him right there with me.

So, so sad. I will be reminding the ones I love about snorkeling safely.

We always snorkel together, especially since we wear weight belts.

This is so sad! Never underestimate the power of the sea. My husband often snorkels further out than me, and it make me worried.

I'm also surpriced to read about so many deaths among scuba divers that actually happens at the surface and includes drowning instead of something happens down there.

Panic is a very strong enemy and can make even the best swimmer unable to think clear.

Be careful out there!

Yep exactly why my honey won't let me go down by myself although not sure what it matters when everyone else is partying on the beach while I'm out there by myself for two hours. Anyone want to volunteer to be my snorkel buddy so I can do a cheap trip. Sad story, they were pulling someone out by the ferry dock when we left last visit, errie feeling. Later read it was an 73 year old lady from St Croix,