UPDATE: Body of missing man found

Dr. Merlin Kelsick

The body of Dr. Merlin Kelsick, who was reported missing on Friday morning, has been found.

The body was found by the Marine Unit.

Dr. Kelsick, 72 of Wesley but living in Canefield,  went fishing at the Roseau Ferry Terminal on Thursday night.

The police in an official report said he was granted access to the terminal to fish around 10:00 pm.

Periodic checks by port security revealed that he was last seen around 2:00 am on Friday, Police PRO, ASP Simon Edwards, said.

A patrol was conducted and an alarm was raised.

A search was then conducted by Dr. Kelsick was not located.

The police were then informed and a search was conducted by land and sea.

The Marine Unit the conducted a dive and the lifeless body of Dr. Kelsick was found submerged in about 20 feet of water alongside the wharf of the ferry terminal.

His body was identified by a member of his family.

The body was then taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital where Dr. Kelsick was officially pronounced dead.

ASP Edwards said investigations into the matter continue.

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42 Comments

  1. Denise Jones
    July 24, 2018

    I texted you today to see how you were doing??to receive a text back saying you were gone from this Earth was devastating to hear. Dr K you have really been an amazing part of my life it was fun working alongside you. I’ll never forget you thank you for words of wisdom and knowledge. I love you dearly….Denise J.

  2. Suzanne Kelsick
    June 26, 2018

    Sometimes only one person is missing, and the whole world seems depopulated. Dr. Merlin Kelsick was one of the pillars of the Kelsick family. Bounded by the values instilled in him by his parents, he returned to his beloved Dominica to provide healthcare to its natives. The kind words expressed by those who knew him, says it all. He will be missed by many. Rest in heaven uncle Merlin. You have gained your wings! I know that you, mama and daddy are having great conversations right now. I will end with this, “the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart.”

    • Dawnkia Mosley
      January 24, 2024

      I’m still in disbelief. DR. k was my Doctor for many years. Thank you for sharing your uncle with me. He’s truly missed

  3. AP George
    June 24, 2018

    Going fishing at 10pm – is that customary? By himself? And the waters were rough right? Yeah, this is a little weird. I hope it was just an accident.. maybe he lost his grip somewhere and fell in the choppy waters. Since he was found in “20 feet of water alongside” or at the foot of the wharf/pier, seems that he probably was disabled first (heart attack, stroke, seizure, blunt force?), and then fell in the water. By all means sad though.

  4. mine
    June 24, 2018

    Sympathy to the family. RIP sir. I think that something don’t sound right , why would he go fishing alone at night.

  5. Edward Ravalliere
    June 24, 2018

    I one of my recent convo with doc, i asked him about his fishing habits and suggested that he should not go alone or that late. I was customary for doc to get out his fishing poles and line them up and get ready for his expedition just about the time his last client would leave his office, but doc would sometimes seat for a five and then knock out. On Thursday about 7pm i called a friend to say that Doc had closed the office and left and that was an excuse for me not to go and finish some work. To wake to the news of him gone missing was a sad reality.

    He was a very resourceful individual and will be surely missed.

  6. Just saying
    June 23, 2018

    To those who say it sounds fishy it’s because he was fishing

  7. Rhelly
    June 23, 2018

    Sad sad bug no foul play suspected. This area is rough sea plus it’s raining heavily. He could slip. Call or even call asleep in this early morning.

  8. Dr. E. A. Pembleton
    June 23, 2018

    My deepest sympathy to the family. We attended Oakwood University tomorrow. He played the guitar very well. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. I hope he was ready for heaven. I was not surprised to learn about hiocommunity service. We were like a family of brothers in the dormitory,
    Dr. E. A. Pembleton, Madison, Alabama

  9. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    June 23, 2018

    A very sad story..Dr Kelsick was student in my DGS science class.. My sympathies to his entire family

  10. Caring Citizen
    June 23, 2018

    This is indeed sad and shocking news. Dominica has lost a true son of the soil. Doctor Merlin Kelsick not only amass information but he was voluntarily teaching the people far and wide of the importance of taking care of their body. He is gone but his information will definitely resonate with me. It is stated that good things do not last long, this is a typical example. I do hope that another doctor fill in the gap. “Your health is your well, check your doctor.” I am happy that I did not wait until his death to tell him that he was doing a fantastic job.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      June 23, 2018

      I suspect foul-play!

      I know Merlin  way bake when we were children, though he has about three years on me. I know him to be a very acrobatic person, he swan like a fish when he was in the water!

      I don’t see him loosing his life by drowning: I don’t  see him being washed off the dock of a bay by a wave and drown unless, he had an imminent heart attack, or a serious paralytic stroke which rendered him motionless. 

      I would hope that an autopsy is performed, if he died from drowning that is the easiest for a pathologists to determine; nevertheless, by the same token if he suffered blunt force trauma which caused his death, that too can be easily determined!

      What puzzles me the most, as I understand his car was driven to his office; if that is true how did the drive come by the key’s When people get out of a car the key goes into their pocket:

      Something is suspicious! 

      • Don Keyballs
        June 24, 2018

        Francisco; if you are so convinced, why don’t you come down to D/ca to lead the investigation into this renowned doctor’s death and then publish your findings? I believe your time would be well served…

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        June 25, 2018

        Well, it seems I have no reason to come home and investigate. It would appear his immediate family is satisfied that foul-play is not involved; and I also get the news that his car was not moved as rumor has it in Dominica, so according to the latest information I got from a credible source, I must wait the result of the autopsy! 

  11. Vernon
    June 23, 2018

    According to the Police PRO, “Periodical checks by port security revealed that he was last seen around 2:00 am on Friday”.
    So the question is what time was he reported missing? The Police Report does not say but I would like to know for a friend.

  12. Caraw
    June 22, 2018

    My condolences to the family of Dr Kelsick. My heart goes out to the family members. May God comfort you.

  13. Tobby
    June 22, 2018

    I guess the port facility has on cameras so that should be viewed by now and established how he found himself falling from the wharf. It could also be a little sleep passed in his eyes and a big hungry fish went on his line and the pull frightened him. These elderly men should stay at their home and watch their TV , why going out to fish so late nah.

  14. Concerned citizen
    June 22, 2018

    I don’t understand. I thought that there was a tropical wave warning that evening ! How was he granted permission to fish in that weather ?

    • June 23, 2018

      Very fishy, smell a big big rat, the sudden passing of the Great Doctor seems very suspicious. To the person saying these elderly should stay at home and wa5ch TV, you need to travel to the amount of activities elderly person are involved with. And to you, age is just a number, mind over matter, and if you don’t mind it does not matter, this mentality some of you people have went it comes to the elderly wanting them to pack themselves in a corner is mind boggling, only in Dominica

      My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families, friends and love ones of Dr Kelsick

  15. Sherlock holmes
    June 22, 2018

    Hmmm…
    Pay attention to details, details details dear Watson

  16. dora
    June 22, 2018

    Sad but true :(

  17. GF
    June 22, 2018

    Extremely knowledgeable Doctors, may God rest his soul

  18. dianne
    June 22, 2018

    for the love of God :( :( :( :( :( :(

  19. DA fails
    June 22, 2018

    To live that long to go so… Smh :-|

  20. kemuel
    June 22, 2018

    harts out to the family … i know its not easy …. :(

  21. KID ON THE BLOCK
    June 22, 2018

    RIP Sir!
    Your Sunday program was very inspiring. Will miss.

  22. free
    June 22, 2018

    Ahhh my gosh what happened. Lord Jesus SAVE Dominica

  23. Melly Mel
    June 22, 2018

    RIP Dr. Kelsick..so sad. You were so good to my mum. My prayers are with your family and friends at this time.

  24. waypapa
    June 22, 2018

    :( :( :( Well well well Dominica suffer a major loss! RIP doc, you were well appreciated. I really never envisioned that’s how you would go.

  25. Roy Williams
    June 22, 2018

    I am in shock. I will really miss him on Sunday afternoons on Q95.

  26. DAGEM
    June 22, 2018

    My sympathies to the Kelsick families. That’s very sad.

  27. John becker
    June 22, 2018

    I was here first

  28. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    June 22, 2018

    This is one of the saddest day of my life!

    I spoke with Merlin about three weeks ago on the air during one of his programs! After all these years practicing medicine in the United States, you returned to your place of birth, only to lost your life so tragically! Rest in peace Merlin, we attended the same elementary school in Wesley; biologically related too; we walked in the same red mud when there were no streets lights, and paved roads except the main road!

    Sorry, you are no longer here rest in peace Merlin, rest in peace!

    • Mary K
      June 23, 2018

      Thank you for your kind thoughts and words. My heart and life have been permanently shattered. I don’t know how I will go on. Merlin loved Dominica so much, we were in the process of finding a home there. Now I have nothing. He truly cared for everyone and was a brilliant and most talented surgeon.
      Rest In Peace my love. My heart is forever with you.

      • Linda Seaton
        July 30, 2018

        Hi Mary this is Linda I am so sadden to hear of this great loss. You know that was my buddy. We were just talking about him as we always do. We miss him so much here at Roseland. It hasn’t been the same without him. Praying for you and the family.

      • November 6, 2018

        Hi Mary,
        Sending my condolences and prayers to you. Dr. Kelsick was a great doctor. He will truly be missed. Love Dawnkia Mosley

  29. SuicideDr
    June 22, 2018

    Dr pretty much said Dats it am OUT

  30. Nacinimod
    June 22, 2018

    Sounds fishy to me how rough was the sea? Hope search and rescue find him as soon as possible.

  31. ArayofLight
    June 22, 2018

    the met office had announced the weather condition since last week there about…so what would encourage a man to go fishing in such conditions and then the location security even allowing him to be fishing??? that’s bizarre. all the best in this search and strength to the family and his patients who would have had pending appointments or reviews

  32. Jahchild
    June 22, 2018

    Oh God, Please look over him and guide him to safety , we ask this humbly

    • June 25, 2018

      What a stupid request !

  33. Jahchild
    June 22, 2018

    oh my god! Lord please guide over him and let this be a positive outcome, we ask this through your son Jesus Christ

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