I had returned to church in late 1985 after a life threatening injury, in early August of that same year. Injuries that caused the public to make the declaration, which turned into nation wide news: “Allan Palmer the Rollerskates man is dead! After I returned to church, I later became Baptized by Seventh Day Adventist Pastor: Steve Philips.
I left the church when I was about, 9 or 10 years old; just after my mother's death. Before my mother's death, I loved going to church, I loved to listen to my mother read me Bible stories, I knew all of the Bible stories, and I would die for the gospel, at lease that was my mindset. I knew about the approaching time of trouble, the Mark of the beast and the prophecies, and it all made sense. After mother's death, I stop going to church, I stop praying, I stopped reading the Bible, but I always kept a sense of God, and I acted like he was always around.
Now, I was back in church and it was the carnival season. I decided to attend my first major church event, Carnival picknick at Warriacou beach. It was the first time I went to Warriacou beach and immeditely, the place spoke to me. This place was perfect, the layout of the beach, the way the wave so peacefully and gracefully rolled in from the ocean and on to the shore. There was something inviting about this beach. Why weren't there more people flocking to this beautiful and peaceful beach I asked myself.
from going into the water, the first thing I noticed about the beach was; there was a strong circular current, that sweeps from the East, and pulls West along the shore line; then the current pulled South out into the ocean. The current is nothing to be afraid of. The strange current is as a result, of the topography of the beach, the location of the reefs, and the way the waves broke in conjunction to the reef.
Very early into the fun on the beach, a young man got caught in the current and began to panic, he began to call for help. Everyone on the picknice began to panic; the shout went up; some one needs help! someone needs help! Being a very good and very strong swimmer; I swam to the immediate area of the fellow who was in distress, I noticed panic was written all over the young man's face; he stretched his hands to me, for me to help him.
We were out in the deep part of the beach. I said to the fellow, "calm down, you can swim, you don't need that type of help from me." I said to the youth "look at me, I am here with you, and nothing is happening to me. It is only the current," I told the guy to relax and then he realized we were in the same condition, he began to relax, I then told him to follow me. When he did, we made it back to the shore safely using the same current.
Sister May Mitchell, was also on the trip with her young grandson Dwayne. Sister Mitchell had a Baygon dinghy, which she may have won from T. Geedies Grant and company Ltd. T. Geedies Grant was a popular wholesale, imports and department store, in Kingstown. These plastic boats were a part of the insect killer: Baygon promotion, that was put on that summer. I remember well because, I tried to win one but I did not.
Sister Mitchell had the dinghy all inflated, but was not willing to risk her grandson's life by handing him over to anyone. When she saw my bravery, and my swimming ability, which was put on display by going into the current to assist the young men who were in distress; she asked me if I can take Dwayne out for a ride in the plastic, Baygon inflatable boat. Without a doubt, I did after all, what could happen? The sea was calm and nice, I understood the tide in the area, and she had a small boat. At least I didn't win one of the boats, but now I am getting the opportunity to enjoy the boat I wanted so bad.
Dwayne was still very small. I stayed close to the shore with the kid in his cool little boat, I pushed him around, as his grandmother and great grandmother: Brenata Soleyn and other females from the church, sat under one of the big amond trees that can be found sprinkled along the beach; enjoying the shade and a conversation. Even though Sister May was sitting with the other women chatting, her main focus was on her grand son in the water.
Every now and then I realized that the tide had pulled us out to far from the shore, when that happened, I mounted the dinghy, putting my chest upon the stern of the inflatable plastic boat, whilst my waist and legs were still in the water, I used my arms, like I was swimming, while kicking of my legs and feet in order to propell the boat in the direction, I wanted and get us back to the safety and comfort of the shore; Keeping in compliance with Sister Mitchell's instructions.
The sea was calm and nice, perfect for a picknick and for frolicking with the young child, in his cool plastic, boat. I was having so much fun, I did not notice there was a change in the tide. Duing the time the tide changed from low tide to high tide. The change of the tide is directed by the moon, and it occurrs ever six hours. I did not notice because I was having so much fun and I had safely swam in all type of tide before; even in seas that was pushed around by tropical storms force winds, in order to ride the big wave, on the large pieces of styrofoam we collected from the trash when Denabrago did repairs to their ice house.
While I was in the middle of having fun, ensuring Dwayne had a good time, once again the tide took us a little further out than that which Sister May was comfortable. I was about to make my way back to the shore. It was then I beheld a large wave coming toward and at us. The wave was large enough to double me up, along with the young child and the little boat. So I decided to go to the wave in order meet the wave, before it broke on us. As a result, I mounted the stern of the little boat, as I have been doing, to get us back to the safety of the shore. However, this time, I was paddled away from the shore and towards the wave, I reach the crest of the wave before it broke, and we ride over the wave smooth and nice. I was proud of myself and my efforts. Now it was time to make my way back into the safety of the shore with the young child.
When I looked up I saw another wave coming at us; this one was a bigger than the one I have just met and safely ride over. I had no choice but to do the same thing once again. As a result, I began to paddle in a swimming motion with both hands and feet. This wave was bigger and it started from further out in the sea than the first one did. I paddled hard, I didn't want to be caught in this wave, not because I was afraid of the wave but because of the precious life, I was given charge and custody over. I paddled hard and I just bearly managed to get over the wave safe and without incident.
By this time, the events had gotten the attention of the picknickers that had assembled on the beach, on the carnival Tuesday. I looked at the sure and I got further away from the safety of the sure. I can see Dwayne's grand mother and the other people looking on; they were all on their feet looking out at the sea. I knew they were looking at the confrontation that was being played out in the ocean before their very eyes. The confrontation between the sea, against myself, the child and small inflatable boat I had in my possession. I was convinced the sea was trying to embarrass me in public; at lease, I had won and save the embarrassment.
The real danger, the threat to the child's life, did not hit me as yet. Even at that time, I could not imagine that happening; it just never crossed my mind. However, I had just successfully road over two large waves, I was exhausted, now it was time to get to the safety of the shore and hand Dwayne over to the safety of his grandmother. Before I could have finished that thought, I could not believe what happened next.
I saw another and even bigger wave heading to us. By this time, I was exhausted, from all the swimming, frolicking with Dwayne, and the rush to ensure the two previous waves did not turn the boat over, etc.
Now I had a bigger problem that confronted me, I had no choice; I had to meet and ride this wave as I did the previous waves. I did not had the time to dismount the dingy, from when I met and road the first wave. So I began to paddle with an even greater level of urgency. I was exhausted, my lungs had been put to the test which climaxed with the safe ride over the second wave. But now I must confront my biggest challenge for the day. The monster of the wave that was heading to me; seems to be mockingly speaking to me. Denouncing the size and the efforts of the two previous waves, and dearing me in my exhaustion to meet, mount and smoothly ride over him in the same manner I did the two previous waves.
I dug deep down within me and I paddled with a sense of, and with an even greater urgency, both my arms and legs were working over time now, I was making good distance in quick time. I paddled harder, faster and stronger than I did the other times. Now I was almost there, I was just about to celebrate, the success of my efforts. The word I did it, had flashed acrossed my mind; When the little boat reach the crest or the peek of the wave. All this time, unaware of the danger, the little nieve passenger, was having the most fun, he have ever had in his life, up to that point.
It was close but not close enough to make it completely over the wave. I felt the little plastic boat going backwards, instinctively, I pulled myself further up upon the little boat, I encircled the littel boat with both of my arms, interlocking my fingers, while pressing Dwayne into my chest. I knew what to expect, because I have been doubled up by big waves many times before even as a child. It was going to be about six or seven second of under water bashing; of being turned inside out, collisions with the sea floor. After the wave had chewed its victims up, it always scornfully spats them out close to the shore line. It is not a bad experience; as a matter of fact, it is a nice rush to be doubled up.
The wave did just as I expected, and I held on to the dinghy like our life depended on it. The wave bashed us around within it, it took us to the sea floor; this caused the air in the inflatable dingy to pull the dinghy upwards in and effort to remind on the top of the water where it belong; while at the same time, the sea that had full control of the solid masses, kept us submerged. The two overpowering forces was to great for me to keep my hold onto the small inflatable boat; which resulted in the inflatable boat become separated from me, releasing Dwayne from my grasp in the process.
It was the first time, I panicked in the situation. I began to franticly search the seafloor with my hands for Dwayne. My eyes were open but, I was unable to see anything. I was blinded by the sand and other debris that was stired up by the pounding of the extremely large waves.
How am I going to explained Dwayne's death and possible dissapearance to Sister Mitchell, I asked myself, while I scour the Seafloor with my hand. I could not lived with myself, if I did not find this child and I surely cannot face Sister Mitchell without her grandson. What am going to tell her I asked myself, all the while, I was franticly search the Seafloor for the child I was entrusted with. It was after considering all these thoughts, that flooded my mind in a nanosecond. I made a very serious decision, I will not surface without the child. He is was my responsibility until I handed him back to his guardian in this case: his grandmother.
As a result, I stayed submerged, in search for the missing child and I was not going to surface without him. I searched with a level and a sense of urgency, but to no avail. And then my hand touched something that felt very soft, unlike the touch of a human body. I quickly grab at the object before the under water turbulence take it away from my grasp. I was not going to take any chances, I held onto the object pulled it towards me for a closer examination. This could have been anything, from a dead seasnake to a random object that was washed into the sea by the rain via one of the many gutters or streams that emptied into the sea. I was desperate, I pray to God it was the child, who was lost in the turbulence. But from my first touch I was convinced it was not, it was too mushy.
When I examined the object with both hands, I realized it was a small child, it could only be one child that was Dwayne. I pulled him close to my chest, then I quickly surfaced, having lost track of time because of exhaustion, fear, the deep thoughts, and a decision I hope I will never have to make again.
When I surfaced, I looked at the child and it was Dwayne. I heard Dwayne coughed, and a big bubble of snat run out of his nose, I knew he was alive. By this time everyone on the beach attention was fixed on me and the child that was lost in the turbulence.
While I was making my way out of the sea, as the breaking waves gently slap the back of my legs pushing me forward as if they knew I was exhausted and needed their help. I walked away with both of our life in tact. It was as if, the waves that slapped the back of my legs, just hard enough to pushing me forward was congratulating me for a job well done, in snatching life of this child from the jaws of death and for not giving up.
By this time SIster Mitchell was down close to the sea, I then handed the exhausted child back to his grandmother and I went relaxed and ate. While I looked at the deceptive beauty of the place; I noticed the sea that was raging with anger only a moment ago went back to a state of peace. This place has a beauty that enticingly speaks to me. To this date no one ever knew Dwayne was lost in the turbulence and accounted for, for a moment.
A few years later, my schoolmate, classmate and friend Bert Bailey and two of his colleagues, lost their life at that beach. I was not there, but I has a sneaking suspicious, they tried to render help to a person in distress in the same manner the individual in the beginning of this story wanted me to help him. This type of assistance is and will always be a recipe for disaster. It is always better to revive a man who was render unconscious by the sea than to try to save a conscious man in distress in the sea who fear drowning.
When I was a police officer, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines when I was on duty, and I was in that area going to and from my police duties, I often drive down that lonely road and visit with the sea and enjoy the serenity and beauty of that place. Never forgetting the deception that comes along with the beauty.
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