Crewmember dies following attack in St Maarten
A 37-year-old crewmember of M/Y Cheetah Moon - identified only as "LG", has died from injuries sustained from an attack in St Maarten in the early hours of Saturday morning.…
A 37-year-old crewmember of M/Y Cheetah Moon - identified only as "LG" - has died from injuries sustained from an attack in St Maarten in the early hours of Saturday morning. The seriously injured white, French national male - indicated by local sources as the chef of the 38m, 1986 Nicolini superyacht - was discovered by a passer by walking on Mullet Bay Beach just before sunrise, at approximately 6am, says local police spokesperson Ricardo Henson.
Paramedics arrived on the scene soon after being called and immediately began treating the injured crewmember, then taking him to the St Maarten Medical Centre for further care. It was decided to move him to more appropriate medical facilities in nearby Martinique, and so he was flown there at 6pm. He died from his injuries at 8pm on Saturday, 26 February.
Henson refused to comment on the particular injuries sustained by the victim, presumed to have been attacked and dumped at the local surf spot on the Dutch side of the island, saying the police would prefer not to release the sensitive details of the case at this stage. But according to the St Martin News Network website, smn-news.com, a "reliable local source" says the attackers poked out the victim's eyes, cut off his nipples, extracted his teeth, stabbed him several times and set him on fire.
Henson added that there are currently no suspects under arrest for this attack, of which there have been no similar cases recently, and that the forensic experts are currently sifting the area for clues. He has asked that anybody who may have seen anything unusual in the vicinity of Mullet Bay Beach, between midnight Friday 25 February and 6am Saturday 26 February, or who has any information they feel will assist in the case, contact the St Maarten police on (+599) 542 2222 (ext 204 or 205).
Rienk Mud of the local public prosecutor's office confirmed that to his knowledge the body of the victim is still in Martinique and that local police are currently trying to work as much as possible with the French authorities on the case, who are involved due to the victim's nationality, even though he was found on the Dutch side of the island.
Earl Wyatt, who runs local yacht agency Sea Grapes and FBO company TLC, says he is still in shock about Saturday’s incident, and that it is by no means normal for the island. All the agents on the island discuss their concerns for crew safety with the police on a regular basis, he says, but nobody could have predicted this case. He also emphasises that crew should remain vigilant when it comes to their personal safety on the island, much as they would anywhere in the world.
“Crew feel safe when they are on the yacht, but when they get off, in reality it’s a different story,” he says. “I recommend that crew always travel in groups if they can, only take approved taxis or hire cars and make sure they should never take an illegal ‘gypsy’ cab. If you are stuck without a cab and want to travel, then call me and I will happily arrange an official cab or pick you up myself” The cabs on the French side of the island are marked with a windscreen seal on the front and back of the vehicle, and on the Dutch side they are marked with “TX”, he explains.
“It will always cost you money when you go out for the night but it shouldn’t cost you your life; if you travel with others you can share the cost of the official cab and be safer,” Wyatt continues. “I also recommend that if crew are on the island for a longer period of time time, they consider a rental to share – good rates are available through the agents, they aren’t just there for the guest transportation.”
The investigation continues.
EB
Paramedics arrived on the scene soon after being called and immediately began treating the injured crewmember, then taking him to the St Maarten Medical Centre for further care. It was decided to move him to more appropriate medical facilities in nearby Martinique, and so he was flown there at 6pm. He died from his injuries at 8pm on Saturday, 26 February.
Henson refused to comment on the particular injuries sustained by the victim, presumed to have been attacked and dumped at the local surf spot on the Dutch side of the island, saying the police would prefer not to release the sensitive details of the case at this stage. But according to the St Martin News Network website, smn-news.com, a "reliable local source" says the attackers poked out the victim's eyes, cut off his nipples, extracted his teeth, stabbed him several times and set him on fire.
Henson added that there are currently no suspects under arrest for this attack, of which there have been no similar cases recently, and that the forensic experts are currently sifting the area for clues. He has asked that anybody who may have seen anything unusual in the vicinity of Mullet Bay Beach, between midnight Friday 25 February and 6am Saturday 26 February, or who has any information they feel will assist in the case, contact the St Maarten police on (+599) 542 2222 (ext 204 or 205).
Rienk Mud of the local public prosecutor's office confirmed that to his knowledge the body of the victim is still in Martinique and that local police are currently trying to work as much as possible with the French authorities on the case, who are involved due to the victim's nationality, even though he was found on the Dutch side of the island.
Earl Wyatt, who runs local yacht agency Sea Grapes and FBO company TLC, says he is still in shock about Saturday’s incident, and that it is by no means normal for the island. All the agents on the island discuss their concerns for crew safety with the police on a regular basis, he says, but nobody could have predicted this case. He also emphasises that crew should remain vigilant when it comes to their personal safety on the island, much as they would anywhere in the world.
“Crew feel safe when they are on the yacht, but when they get off, in reality it’s a different story,” he says. “I recommend that crew always travel in groups if they can, only take approved taxis or hire cars and make sure they should never take an illegal ‘gypsy’ cab. If you are stuck without a cab and want to travel, then call me and I will happily arrange an official cab or pick you up myself” The cabs on the French side of the island are marked with a windscreen seal on the front and back of the vehicle, and on the Dutch side they are marked with “TX”, he explains.
“It will always cost you money when you go out for the night but it shouldn’t cost you your life; if you travel with others you can share the cost of the official cab and be safer,” Wyatt continues. “I also recommend that if crew are on the island for a longer period of time time, they consider a rental to share – good rates are available through the agents, they aren’t just there for the guest transportation.”
The investigation continues.
EB
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