When a young nanny drowned in a family pool while swimming with two children in her care, it sent a wave of sadness and concern rippling through the community.
Friends and fellow nannies were heartbroken and shocked that the “joyful” woman had lost her life so suddenly. Parents felt the tragedy just as keenly.
Almost four years later, the memory of Sheillah Otanda is inspiring an island-wide effort to help teach every nanny in Cayman how to swim.
In late April, more than 70 people converged on the pool at Camana Bay to tread water in her memory and to raise funds for the Swim for Sheillah organisation set up in her honour.
Among those involved was Emmaculate Mutuku a fellow nanny, and housemate and Kenyan compatriot of Otando, 29.
“I was thinking of her the whole time,” said Mutuku, 30, after treading water for 45 minutes to help raise $20,000 for the charity at the Tread for Sheillah event last month.
“In my mind I was just thinking that wherever she is, I hope she is at peace.”
She describes her friend as a “joyful” person who was sociable and well loved in the Kenyan community in Cayman.
“I will always miss her,” she added.
“When this happened I realised that I really need to learn how to swim, even just in case I have to save myself.”
“I thought this is something that I can do. This is the least I can do for her.”
Since then she has been through the non-profit’s six-week swim programme four times.
She now feels confident in the water.
“The fear that I had is gone,” she said.
The programme was set up by a charitable trust, formed by Sheillah’s employer Dina Foley and Kristin Koopman, a swim instructor and owner of Sky Blue Aquatics, in the aftermath of her death.
Tragedy reveals islandwide problem
Foley will never forget those horrible days back in June 2020, when she was alerted to the news that her children’s beloved carer had drowned while taking her kids for a swim.
The nanny got into difficulties in only mildly deep water and was unable to save herself.
“Part of the tragedy was that nobody knew she couldn’t swim. I am not sure that she knew she couldn’t swim,” said Foley.
“It really broke my heart that this young woman with her whole life ahead of her had died.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Foley said she was approached by other mothers who had begun wondering both about the safety of their nannies and their children around water.
“A lot of my friends had started asking their nannies if they could swim and most of them could not.”
Some of them could splash around in the shallows and might have described themselves as being able to swim.
“Could they get themselves out of danger or jump in after a struggling child? In most cases, absolutely not.”
Foley partnered with Sky Blue Aquatics to set up a heavily subsidised swim programme for nannies.
A lot of the nannies didn’t have money for lessons and were worried for their jobs. So the programme – a six-to-10-week skills course and assessment – filled a niche.
“It really opened our eyes to a piece of the puzzle that was missing,” she said.
“Everybody had been focused on the kids but nobody had focused on the caregivers.”
She hopes the programme will help nannies feel comfortable in the water and make them able to save themselves or save a child if something goes wrong.
Kristin Koopman of Sky Blue Aquatics said the Swim for Sheillah programme focused on basic swimming, water safety and survival skills, along with assessments. Sometimes it takes several sessions for participants to acquire the necessary skill set to pass.
“We have learned through the last few years, that many adults that say they can swim, can not actually swim. The assessment ensures they can perform certain tasks that will confirm their ability,” she said.
The next term will start in September 2024, though a series of intensive summer courses are planned which will be advertised through social media.
To sign up, message or voice note administrative assistant, Maureen, on WhatsApp at 526-0054 or email [email protected].
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