Golfer killed as boat hits rocks off Monos IslandBy INDARJIT SEURAJ Monday, September 21 2009
A night of prayer on Monos Island ended in tragedy for former American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) president and diplomat Michael Arneaud, when his wife was killed after their boat ran aground and crashed into some jagged rocks on the island.
Sharon Arneaud, 64, of Westmoorings, died while receiving emergency treatment at the West Shore Medical complex.
Up to late yesterday, Arneaud (Michael), 69, was listed in stable, but serious condition at the intensive care unit of the hospital.
Three others-thoracic surgeon Dr Ormond Mendez, his wife Judy and Patrice Pantin-were also injured in the incident.
It is the second boating accident in the Chaguaramas area, in as many months.
On August 16, 13-year-old Paige Welch, her mother Raquel Welch, 40, of New Hampshire, and 23-year-old cousin Lance Aqui were seriously injured during a kayaking expedition in Chaguaramas.
Paige’s left arm was almost severed during the incident and doctors at the Medical Associates private hospital had initially done surgery that same day to try and save Paige’s arm.
She eventually lost part of her forearm despite desperate attempts by surgeons at the Boston Children’s Hospital in the US to save the limb.
On Saturday, the Arneauds, the Mendez’ and Pantin were returning to Arneaud’s vacation home on Gasparee Island at about 7.19 pm, on board his pleasure boat Sisu, when the tragedy struck.
According to Arneaud’s son Stephen, the friends were returning from a mass on Monos Island, sailing from a tiny cove called Balmoral Bay. The area was badly lit due to a power outage and it was this that caused Arneaud’s boat to run aground.
“There were a number of things which were not in their favour,” Stephen said during an interview yesterday, at the Power Boats mariner on Western Main Road, Chaguaramas.
“There was a power outage and the marker which was made by the sea scouts building was not there. It was destroyed by fire two weeks ago,” Stephen said.
He noted his father’s years of seamanship counted for nothing in the near total darkness.
“He’s been in the water for the past 60 years, starting with the sea scouts,” he said.
The impact of the crash immediately cracked the hull of the vessel, at the bow.
Sharon, who had only one week earlier copped the first place in the “C” class of the AIB Women’s Golf Open at the St Andrew’s Golf Club at Moka, Maraval, was thrown violently forward, crashing into a table.
She suffered a punctured lung, but as Dr Mendez later explained, Sharon ignored her pain and ensuring instead, that the others were fine.
“My mom was saying ‘is everyone okay? Is everyone okay?’,” Stephen continued, “He (Dr Mendez) thought she was the least injured.”
But as it turned out, Sharon felt the brunt of the crash and died later at West Shore.
“She was a woman who was very full of life. She was loving and lively,” Stephen said.
“I would say that she really enjoyed a good drink, good laugh and good friends. She always had a smile on her face,” he added.
Arneaud, meantime, reportedly suffered injuries to his head and shoulder and reportedly underwent surgery late Saturday.
Pantin also remained warded at West Shore after reportedly sustaining a fracture to the back of her skull. Dr Mendez and his wife Judy were treated for minor injuries and discharged from hospital yesterday.
Stephen said it was a “tough time” for him, noting that his parents had only recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
Arneaud still has not been told of the death of his wife.
Stephen made a public appeal for prayers for the injured people.
“We’re just asking everybody to say a prayer,” he said.
Arneaud last served as Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to the United States and Mexico, before his retirement.
A release from the Coast Guard’s public relations officer Lieutenant Kirk Jean-Baptiste confirmed that two interceptors with full medical crew and equipment were dispatched to assist the injured persons.
The officers eventually took the injured to the Coast Guard’s Staubles Bay base, where they were taken to hospital by Coast Guard and Army ambulance.
Carenage Police are investigating.
