Man missing at sea

| 11/12/2008

(CNS): A search and rescue operation is underway after 36-year-old Ian Hugh Cummings was reported missing at sea on Wednesday, 10 December. At 10:10 pm the 911 Emergency Communications Centre received a call from a man reporting that Cummings, his fishing partner, was missing. According to police, the men had been fishing in Bodden Town in the Moon Bay area where Cummings lived.

Police and medics attended the scene and were told by the man that Cummings started swimming to shore after their boat was capsized by a wave. The other man stayed with the boat for a short while. He was forced to abandon the boat, made his way to shore, but Cummings could not be found.

A search of the area by Marine and Air Support Units and foot patrols was conducted but had to be called off at 2:45 am on Thursday, 11 December, due to worsening weather conditions.

Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kennett, who is coordinating the search, said, “The helicopter and jet skis were out for hours last night in an effort to try and find Ian. The search resumed at first light by sea, in the air and on land, but there’s no sight of him. We have recovered the boat.” Kennett added, “I think there is little doubt that Ian has tragically drowned. I can’t see any other logical explanation. The currents are very strong and treacherous in this area. The search will be continuing throughout the day.”

The RCIPS extends condolences to Ian’s family and friends.
 

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  1. Val Strang says:

    He said he wanted to die at sea

    Ian told me that aged twenty three

    But thirty six is much too soon

    To loose his life in the light of the moon

     

    A kind and helpful, happy lad

    His passing on is oh, so sad

    Out on Bahari he taught us a lot

    This son of The Isles That Time Forgot

     

    Ian Cummings we shall not forget

    Fishing heavy seas, getting soaking wet

    His keenness for fishing all hours of the day

    So sad for his life to end this way.

     

    Love from the Strang Family.

  2. April says:

    Thank you or your thoughts and prayers.  The boys at Island Paving are having a candelight vigil Saturday at 7 pm at Moon Bay to say their goodbyes to Ian.  Feel free to attend.

  3. Anonymous says:

    My heart goes out to Mr. Cummings and his family. May God bless them all and help them to be able to deal with their loss. I wish there was some magic power I had to change all of this and bring him back to his family safe and sound…but I am not God. I will continue to pray for the family and friends of Mr. Cummings.

     

  4. Anonymous says:

    I also pray that Ian will be found alive. It breaks my heart to hear of such a tragedy. He went to school and played soccer with my boys. This is very hard on the boys they just can’t believe this has happened to him because he was a good swimmer as far as they can recall. My condolences goes out to his family especially to his mom.

  5. Anonymous says:

    me too, i pray he is found alive, he is such a nice person, would be a great loss to Cayman to lose such a promising and good hearted Caymanian, my prayers are with the family in this painful and greivesome time…

  6. Ziri says:

    I am praying that Ian would be found alive…

    • Anonymous says:

      What a terrible tragedy, I can not immagine the misery this poor man’s family must be feeling, but perhaps this should be a wake up call to the Marine Police to ask the government for legislation to be put in place to make all boats be registered.

      This would ensure that they all carry minimum saftey equipment such as life jackets, flares, VHF radio,EPIRBs and that they are insured to cover the enormous costs of mounting search and rescue operations which can run to tens of thousands of dollars (especially if a helicopter search if mounted)

      Such legislation is already in place in many countries and is responsible for saving thousands of lives every year and would almost certainly have saved one precious life here in the Cayman Islands this Christmas.

      It would also help the ever increasing cost of running our excellent Marine Police units who themselves risk their lives attempting to rescue mariners in dangerous life threatening situations.