Cocorite man drowns in Tobago during fishing expedition

A COCORITE man reportedly drowned after falling off some rocks in Parlatuvier, Tobago yesterday morning. According to police reports, Welton Jagessar, 28, who has been living in Tobago for the past five years, was rock-fishing around 10.30 am with his friend Andrew Phillip, when the incident occurred. A tearful Phillip later told police he did not hear or see when Jagessar, who was fishing a little distance away, fell off the rocks. Phillip saw his friend’s body floating in the water however, when he (Phillip) tried to get to Jagessar, the body sank.

Phillip quickly summoned the help of villagers who carried out a search and rescue exercise and subsequently fished out Jagessar’s body a short distance from where he had fallen into the water. The Police arrived on the scene a short while later followed by DMO Dr Samuel Nwokolo who ordered Jagessar’s corpse to be removed to the Scarborough Mortuary. An autopsy has been scheduled for today and Tobago police were up to late yesterday continuing investigations.

And in a related incident, Tobago police are investigating a chopping incident which occurred in Parlatuvier yesterday where a man was chopped on the hand. The incident, police sources said, reportedly stemmed from a family squabble that included relatives of drowning victim, Welton Jagessar. The chopping victim was said to have been taken to Scarborough General Hospital where he is resting in a stable condition. Investigations are continuing.