Baby drowns at sea off Gasparee Island

A fun-filled day at Gasparee Island turned tragic for a Victoria Gardens family, when they discovered their one-year and five-month old daughter Danielle Gwyneth Schoener Scott floating in waters close to their rented beach house.

When her tiny body was pulled out of the water little Danielle was already dead. Reports revealed that around 5.15 pm on Thursday, Gregory Scott, his wife Debra, their three children Matthew, Jessica and Phillip, other children, friends and relatives were at the rented beach house preparing to leave the island, when they discovered Danielle missing. A frantic search was carried out for the baby who was found floating in the sea. Her lifeless body was pulled out by shocked relatives who attempted mouth to mouth resuscitation. Officers of the Carenage Police Station were contacted as well as a District Medical Officer and undertakers.

The body was viewed by a DMO. An autopsy revealed that death was due to drowning. The tragedy caused widespread mourning at Victoria Gardens. Many distraught neighbours and friends offered their condolences to the parents. Danielle’s mother, Debra was close to tears as she spoke about the short life of her baby daughter. She said that her husband and children were taking the death very badly and she was trying to come to terms with the tragic loss. She described Danielle as a child who loved people and was always smiling even with strangers.

The grieving mother of four said that Danielle loved to eat and was fond of chicken and pasta. She also loved the beach and often played with the older children in the street where she lived. She would have celebrated her second  birthday on July 2, which is also Debra’s birthday. “Danielle’s death is not only a loss to us but to many who knew her,” said her devastated mother. Clutching a beach ball which belonged to Danielle, her mother said that even at her tender age Danielle loved to sweep, mop and clean. For Christmas she was given a vacuum cleaner, a broom and a cleaning set, among other gifts. She said that her daughter was an angel and will be remembered as such.

Sunday Newsday learned that Danielle’s father worked at home and Danielle was always under his desk, smiling and keeping him company. He was attached to his last child. A female friend of the family described the parents of Danielle as excellent parents. She said that Debra is involved in a lot of charitable work and counsels people who have experienced loss. Several children who knew Danielle wrote letters and poems to the parents of Danielle. The funeral takes place tomorrow at the St Finbar’s RC Church followed by cremation at the Crematorium, St James.