Less than a week after a teenage boy died after jumping from the cliffs near Pedro St. James Castle, another young man met the same fate after jumping from nearly the same spot.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported Sunday that the 21-year-old victim’s body was recovered in the sea around 5.30pm. He was identified as Adam Rankine.
The initial report of a swimmer in distress came into the 911 Emergency Centre about an hour before.
The 21-year-old was located Sunday afternoon by marine search teams, according to RCIPS Chief Inspector Harlan Powery.
Mr. Powery said it appeared Adam, who was from East End, had been jumping off the cliffs in the same location that Justin Henry, 16, jumped to his death last week.
Officers were bringing the dead man’s body to shore late Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people had gathered at Pedro St. James Sunday to await news of the young man’s fate.
Police had earlier said they would seek to close off the waters around Pedro St. James Castle to swimmers because of the tragedy involving Justin Henry.
The Pedro cliffs have recently become a popular hang out for young people, Mr. Powery said.
The remains of Justin E. Henry, 16, of George Town, were recovered at 9.26am Tuesday, 27 December in the vicinity of the Pedro Bluff after he had gone missing in rough seas the previous day while swimming with friends near Pedro Castle.
According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the incident involving Justin Henry occurred about 4pm Monday, 26 December. Authorities said a fellow swimmer jumped into the water at the time of the incident to try to help, but to no avail.
Police searched the area until about 6.30pm Monday before efforts were suspended due to darkness and worsening weather conditions. The teenager was found the next day.
RCIPS officials have confirmed that officers have made enquiries into the incident and while the case has not been closed, they indicated there was no suspicion of any criminal activity in connection with Justin Henry’s death.
With regard to the 21-year-old victim’s situation, police said it was believed the man’s sister was at the Pedro Castle location when the man went into the water, but provided no further details.
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Young people hanging out at Pedro Castle??? It is so secluded out there! There is a saying, ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD WHERE FOOLS GO. I am not bashing young people from having fun, but from all the stories; especially the murder and ghost stories I have heard from that place, you think that these youngsters would not be so presumptious as to jump from the cliff. It is pure ignorance! And parents who don’t communicate with their children, are partly to blame for it.
If the Ci Government wanted to protect these young people from themsleves, they would simply BAN all recreational diving from those cliffs
We grew up knowing and respecting that area as some of the most dangerous waters around Cayman…no one took the risk of ‘thrill’ diving from those rocks when we were youngsters…picnics and exploration in the caves, yes….diving ? NO WAY!
If the authorities does not ban this dangerous activity, more lives will be lost and there is enough justification because of the lives that have already been lost.
In the same vein, the CI Government now needs to introduce a more stringent drivers license education and qualification regime; possibly including a progressive license program for younger drivers, where they are allowed certain driving privileges in stages until their age and experience qualifies them for a full, non-restricted drivers license.
Too many young lives are being needlessly and carelessly lost in Cayman now.
2 people die at their own hands and the government goes nuts yet almost every night I’m out I see a drunk driver and the government gives them almost no time in jail and a cell phone to occupy their time.
If people want to take their lives into their own hands so they can experience thrill (and perhaps some fun…which many locals lack) why not let them? They’re not killing innocent people.