A seven-year-old girl died yesterday after she was hit by a jet ski as she swam at Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago.
Angelica Sadie Jogie, of Barrackpore, a student of a San Fernando TML Primary School, was bathing with family members at the beach when she was struck by a jet ski which broke through the perimeter rope.
Family members and other nearby beachgoers rushed to assist the child.
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was administered at the scene to revive her before she was transported to the Scarborough General Hospital for treatment.
Angelica’s uncle, Darren Jogie, told the Express the jet ski broke the perimeter rope and crashed into him and other relatives.
“We were bathing at Pigeon Point, not too far from the ropes (but) inside the ropes, and this guy with this jet ski, I do not know where he came from, hit me, my brother and hit the child.
“Two of them were unconscious one time. I could not catch myself. Sadie got the full brunt of the jet ski and her whole face mash up,” Jogie said.
Jogie said he sustained head injuries.
Despite the efforts of first responders and medical staff, the seven-year-old died while being treated.
Jogie said the family was struggling to come to terms with the loss of Angelica last night.
Police search for jet ski operator
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, during a news conference last night to address the death of Angelica, described her death as unfortunate and that police were looking for the person who was operating the jet ski.
Following the incident, the jet ski driver left the Pigeon Point area, police said.
“We have been having these conversations for a very long time about the Pigeon Point Heritage Park and ensuring that safety is paramount for all of our guests and all of our users of the park.
“Unfortunately, we had an incident where a jet ski collided with a family bathing in an area designated for bathers, within the area cordoned off for bathers. The jet ski collided with a mother, father and an uncle, as a result of the incident we have the death of a young girl.
“We want to start by expressing sympathies to the Jogie family, Arnold and Salisha Jogie, and their young daughter, Angelica, passed away despite efforts made, she left the Pigeon Point beach unconscious but died at the Scarborough General Hospital,” Augustine said.
He said police have seized the jet ski.
“The police is currently looking for the operator of the jet ski who fled the scene at the time of the incident. We are looking at the Executive Council to ensure there is strict management as to how we operate at the park.
Augustine said the matter is being investigated by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the THA.
“We are investigating on our end to see if workers and operators at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park, if they (operated) in accordance with the systems that they ought to follow and whether all of the post-trauma care and operations matched the protocols already established for them to follow,” Augustine said.
Tourism Secretary Zorisha Hackett, assistant Secretary Nikita Percy and other THA officers visited family members at the Scarborough General Hospital and offered condolences on behalf of the THA.
