George Tyson, for whom this year’s Virgin Gorda Festival Village is to be named, died Sunday morning while fishing for whelks off Copper Mine Point, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue President Phil Aspinall said.
“He couldn’t swim,” Mr. Aspinall said.
A companion went for help, but by the time he returned, Mr. Tyson had disappeared beneath the water, according to Mr. Aspinall.
“It’s just a tragic accident,” he said.
Festival organisers will meet Monday evening to discuss how best to honour Mr. Tyson’s memory, VG Festival Committee Chairman Franklin Walters said.
“He will surely be missed,” Mr. Walters said.
Mr. Tyson was an equipment operator for the Public Works Department, said Rodney Stevens, a superintendent in the department’s VG office.
“He was the best operator on the island,” Mr. Stevens said, adding, “He was a gracious person.”
See the April 11, 2011 edition for full coverage.