The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) late Friday advised that the body of a child, who was suspected to have drowned in Hellshire, St Catherine, was found and handed over to the Marine Police.

The JDF report came hours after Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Leighton Gray told the
Jamaica Observer that the search for a cop and a 13-year-old boy who are believed to have drowned on Thursday at Sand Hills beach in Hellshire had been suspended for the day after rescuers spent a second day searching for the two without success.

Last evening the JDF said its Maritime Air and Cyber Command aided in the recovery of the child’s body and the army will continue to utilises its assets and personnel to continue the search.

It was not immediately clear if the body is that of the 13-year old who was reported to have drowned in the incident that occurred at approximately 3:00 pm Thursday.

When the Jamaica Observer visited the beach on Friday, police and soldiers were seen patrolling the area at which a sign is planted advising that swimming is not permitted as the beach is private property and is “not licensed nor operated for public use”.

Initial reports had suggested that the cop, Constable Shamar Grant, and the teen who drowned was a girl, however, SSP Gray, who is the commanding officer for St Catherine South Police Division, told the Observer that the teen is a boy named Aaron Russell.

According to Gray, Constable Grant, who lives in Spanish Town and is assigned to the operations section at Greater Portmore Police Station, went to assist Russell and a woman, named Aliyah Dawkins, who encountered difficulties while swimming.

“Aliyah Dawkins, and the 13-year-old boy were here enjoying the beach and he (Russell) got into difficulty, so Aliyah, being a member of his family, went to assist him and both of them got into difficulty,” SSP Gray said.

He speculated that a strong current worsened the difficulties encountered by the three individuals.

The senior cop said that eventually, on Thursday, Dawkins, who is a resident of Waterford in St Catherine, was found unresponsive by the Marine Police and Coast Guard.

“There was a pulse, so CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was offered to her, and she was rushed in a police vehicle to the Spanish Town Hospital, but unfortunately she died thereafter,” he said.

Gray, who described the incident as unfortunate, said that the police are determined to locate Constable Grant and Russell.

“We were here until about 11:00 last night (Thursday), so we decided to call off the rescue then and start our search effort again this morning (Friday) at 6:00, so we were up and running from then with the support of the Coast Guard from the JDF and also the Marine Police,” he said

“The fishermen here in Hellshire, at least a dozen of them, decided from last night (Thursday) to offer that level of support which they are doing at this time, so the search effort continues and we will be consistent and persistent in finding these persons” he added.

When the Observer raised the issue of the sign at the entrance of the property stating that swimming is prohibited, Gray said that despite the warning, many people still visit the beach for recreational activities.

“From what I gathered from residents of Hellshire, from time to time persons would come here and recreate, persons will try to move away from the regular situation and the crowded situation. So I think it is a nice area, and if it is properly developed it would be a nice beach, so people can have it as a recreational spot,” he said.

At the same time he urged the public to avoid swimming in prohibited areas noting that, while they may be open spaces, it is important to observe the signs in place.

“I must just implore persons, while they go swimming, especially at this time during the festivities, they must take due care and ensure that persons who venture into the water at least they can help themselves. I also implore adults to protect the children and ensure that they are properly supervised,” Gray said.

The sign at the entrance to Sand Hills beach in Hellshire states clearly that swimming is prohibited. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

Senior Superintendent of Police Leighton Gray speaking with the Jamaica Observer at Sand Hills Beach in Hellshire, St Catherine, on Friday as rescuers search for a police constable and a 13-year-old boy who are believed to have drowned there on Thursday afternoon.

Police look out to sea on Friday at Sand Hills beach in Hellshire, St Catherine, as their colleagues, as well as the Coast Guard search for a constable and a 13-year-old boy who are feared drowned.

Marine police search the sea off Sand Hills beach in Hellshire, St Catherine, on Friday for a cop and a boy who are believed to have drowned there Thursday afternoon.