The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A YOUNG man in Exuma is missing and feared death after his kayak capsized in rough seas on Sunday.

Hailand Rolle travelled with two others on Sunday. The other men swam to Duck Cay, where they were rescued by police shortly after midnight on Monday.

Police said all three men, all Exuma residents, left Ramsey Beach on a yellow kayak around 2pm on Sunday, heading toward Duck Cay. When they failed to return or make contact, police were alerted.

The two men told police that their kayak had capsized during the trip, and they both swam to the cay.

Yesterday, there were unconfirmed reports that a boater may had found part of a body near Tim’s Bay, but Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings was unable to verify this information up to press time.

“My grandnephew went on a kayak,” said Kenneth Nixon, referring to Hailand. “It was three of them, and they usually do this, but not on a day like this with high winds and ground swells.”

He said the men were about three-quarters of a mile from the mainland.

“They usually go across there to fish and collect welks,” he said. “There is a cay right in front of Ramsey. They left from Ramsey Beach and went on a kayak.”

Mr Nixon said a large wave struck the kayak, causing it to overturn.

“The kayak turned over, and they all went under the water,” he said.

He said when they came up, they were unable to retrieve the kayak.

 “They swam to the cay because they lost the kayak,” he said. “It cannot sink; it stays afloat. But because they fell into the water, it was blown away by the high winds.”

Gary Rolle, Hailand’s granduncle, said this latest incident is another tragedy for the Rolle family.

 “I just buried his daddy about four years ago,” he said, adding that Hailand was probably about 14 or 15 years old when his father, Donald Rolle Jr, was crushed under a car in the yard.