US-based Vincentian dies at Rabacca, drowning suspected
An extended vacation for a US-based Vincentian ended tragically earlier this week.
On the evening of Tuesday, August 15, Andrew Stephens was on a family outing at Rabacca, in an area known as Drip, when he got into difficulties in the water.
His body was recovered on Wednesday morning July 16, along the shoreline at Rabacca.
Stephens was born in St Vincent, but had migrated to the United Kingdom as a child, and later moved to the USA.
The former Georgetown resident had returned to St Vincent to visit with family, when tragedy struck.
Sister of the deceased, Georgietha ‘Aunty G’ Nanton has expressed deep sadness over the loss of her eldest brother.
Nanton, a resident of Georgetown, but who is now in England, said Andrew was the first of their mother’s five children.
Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, Nanton said she never got to see her brother on his last trip home.
“He wanted to surprise me, so I did not know that he was coming, and unfortunately, he came on June 14, which is the same day I left for the UK.”
Nanton is still in the UK spending quality time with her other brother, Michael ‘Music Man’ Nanton, who is also a former resident of Georgetown.
Although she did not get to see Andrew on this, his last trip to SVG, Nanton said she has many fond memories of her brother, the many times she visited him in the US.
She said Andrew had also returned to St Vincent in 1998 when their mother died.
The caring sister said Andrew should have already returned to the US, but he had extended his time in SVG.
According to his sister, the 66-year-old father of four had plans of “returning home for good” sometime in the near future.
“At first, I did not accept that my brother had died, this is very hard to accept,” Nanton told SEARCHLIGHT.
Stephens reportedly disappeared while bathing, after being pulled by a strong wave.
His body was found the next day.
Police say drowning is suspected but a post mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
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