Police in man-overboard rescue

(CNS): Customs and Police Marine Unit hauled a man out of the sea after he fell overboard in the main channel on Monday. Although not seriously hurt, the 19-year-old man was treated for shock, and another man was arrestedyesterday in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, police in West Bay arrested three men for drug-related offences, and one woman was arrested in George Town for gambling.

Police said that in the man-overboard incident, the Port Authority had received a call at around 10:00 am on 8 September from a staff member aboard Don Foster’s dive boat Cayman Sky, who was reporting that a 19-year-old man had fallen overboard. The crew member who had fallen into the sea had no flotation with him in the water. The boat was carrying 7 customers and 5 crew members and was heading through the main channel to complete an open-water dive when the crew member fell overboard. Police added that it was thought he fell due to rough sea conditions.

Cayman Protector and the helicopter were deployed to carry out a search for the man immediately and a coordinated effort to locate him commenced. It was thought he would be drifting in the North Sound, so with Cayman Protector on the water and the air support crew in the air, the search began.

At around 10:25 am the man was spotted 200 meters directly north of the main channel in open water. He was brought aboard Protector and taken to shore for assessment by medics. The man was not seriously injured in the incident but he was found to be in a distressed swimmer’s condition and suffering from shock. Following the incident, an investigation commenced by the Marine Unit, which resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old man on suspicion of carrying out a reckless and negligent act and other related Port Authority offences. The man has been released on police bail pending further  investigations.

In other police news, officers from West Bay Police Station Uniform Support Group (USG) and the K9 department carried out two drug operations on Sunday, which resulted in three arrests for possession of ganja and consumption of a controlled drug. Two men, aged 28 and 44, were arrested at an address in Caribbean Lane, and in the second operation a 29-year-old man was arrested at an address in Duxies Lane. All three men have been released on police bail pending further investigations. A quantity of ganja was also seized at each location.

On Saturday a 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling in George Town and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling crime stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.