Student, 16, drowns

A 16-year-old student of North Eastern College drowned Sunday evening but his body only resurfaced after 4 pm Monday, police said.

Police yesterday identified the teenager as Derion Alexander, of Graham Trace, Sangre Grande. He was a Fifth Form student of the school. Western Division police said Alexander was among 80 members of the Wesylon Adventist Church who went camping at the Chaguaramas Cove Beach and Restaurant on August 8.  The camp was supposed to end yesterday. Police said around 1.45 pm Sunday, half of the group, including Alexander, went to the beach area. The group returned to their campsite around 3 pm and it was not until 7 pm they realised Alexander was missing. Members of the church group made several searches for Alexander, but all turned out to be futile. Around 4 pm Monday, however, police said Alexander’s body was seen floating near the shoreline of the Chaguaramas Cove. A report was made and a party of officers headed by Sgt Stephen Joefield and including PC Glasgow of the Carenage CID visited the scene and conducted investigations. The TT Coast Guard as well as District Medical Officer Dr Mootoo were summoned to the scene. Alexander’s mother, Jenecia Alexander-Picton, later identified her son’s body. The DMO pronounced Alexander dead and ordered his body removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary where a post-mortem was performed yesterday. PC Glasgow is continuing investigations.