Youth drowns in Canefield River; body not yet recovered

An afternoon swim turned tragic yesterday when a 17-year-old boy drowned in the Boeri River in Cane Field.

Dead is Micael Okwan Mitchel of Fond Cole.

So far the authorities have not been able to recover the young man’s body. The search is still ongoing.

His mother, Bankley Cuffy, told Dominica News Online that she last saw her son at about 11:00 am on Sunday. She said when the young man informed her of his intention to go swimming, a chill came over her and she knew she would never see him again.

She said the weather made her uneasy.

“I just knew he would not come home. I knew it. I have a lot of love for my children. I cannot get him back. He is gone,” she said in a rather mild and easy tone.

He was the eldest of three children.

The grieving mother told DNO that one of her son’s friends that supposedly accompanied him to the river, relayed the circumstances of his death to her, sometime between 5 and 6 pm yesterday.

She said she was informed that Micael was fooling around while crossing the river and there was a mishap of some sort and he lost his balance and was swept away by the current. . He was the last of three to cross.

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24 Comments

  1. GOLDEN DREAMS
    September 22, 2010

    @emotional!: I WOULD NOT THINK SO THE LORD DONT MAKE MISTAKES

  2. GOLDEN DREAMS
    September 22, 2010

    REST IN PEACE YOUNG MAN…. TO THE FAMILY JUST TRUST IN THE LORD AND HE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH THIS UNFORTUNATE TIME

  3. Karkabeff
    September 21, 2010

    RIP young man.

  4. CONCERNED
    September 21, 2010

    MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED! MAY GOD STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THIS TIME OF LOST.

  5. Realist
    September 21, 2010

    This is all to sad. Condolences to the grieving mother, siblings, relatives, loved ones. May you find comfort in his memory.

    I hope the body is recovered soon. God guide Dominica and our youth please. Stretch your hands across this island and bring about some calm, some peace and less pain.

  6. GAZAQUEEN
    September 21, 2010

    R.I.P

  7. hart
    September 20, 2010

    just want to extend my love and support to you in these bad times the lord will take care of you .god is in control .

  8. sexya
    September 20, 2010

    r.i.p my friend my to your family ok

  9. September 20, 2010

    can someone plz tell me! do ppl die b4 their time?

  10. September 20, 2010

    r-i-p

  11. chucky
    September 20, 2010

    R.I.P we will meet again

  12. Charmer
    September 20, 2010

    I do hope the body will be recovered so the grieving family will find closure. R.i.P YOUNG ONE

  13. Typical Dominican
    September 20, 2010

    Tragic!… Tragic!.. Another youth gone.. R.I.P Micael Okwan.. My prayers are with the family. May God bless you all!

  14. xtra forever young esprit
    September 20, 2010

    now adays the young ones are leaving more quickly than the old ones .but accept my sympathy to the fsmily members of this young individual …..i wish u guys all the comfort needed

  15. kimmy
    September 20, 2010

    that is so sad .

  16. da
    September 20, 2010

    @good choice: It is always a pleasure to read intelligent comments. I am just so tired of us, ‘Dominicans’ being so negative. It is a blessing to see your optimism even in difficult times. God bless you and the family of the young lad.

  17. good choice
    September 20, 2010

    so sad the number of deaths our country have suffered within such a short period of time. AND SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE…my sympathies are with the family and friends of this young man. be strong and believe in the Creator. know that everything happens for a reason and that we should not question the Lord’s work.

    PEACE BE WITH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND HOPE YOU FIND COMFORT IN THE LORD.

  18. fondcole youth
    September 20, 2010

    how sad,may ur soul R.I.P Micael.young people its time to surrender ur life to God.God is coming

  19. Anonymous
    September 20, 2010

    Mama my condolences, and yes the weather did turn around that, even I as an adult would not even take a chance by the sea shore. Just be encourage and encourage others who are set in their ways to. In the name of ‘outing’

  20. have mercy
    September 20, 2010

    so sad.

  21. FISHY
    September 20, 2010

    No body??? Very sad

  22. Person
    September 20, 2010

    The name of the river is Boeri River

  23. A Voice
    September 20, 2010

    Sad, very sad. My sympathies to the greiving mother.

    Was it raining or something? I know them river level there go down so low, I find it strange that a man would be just swept away.

    Anyways GOD bless….

  24. jen
    September 20, 2010

    It is such a tragic end to micael’s life may he rest in peace bankley my prayers are with you may you find peace within

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