One day after their father drowned in Maracas Bay, the grieving children of Richard Ramcharan are urging other beachgoers to be vigilant, even in familiar waters.
Ramcharan, a taxi driver, and his 59-year-old brother-in-law, a US citizen, went into the water around 2.30 pm on Sunday, but about 45 minutes later they encountered difficulties. They were signalling and shouting for help. The lifeguard rescued both men and conducted CPR with the help of other beachgoers.
Both men were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by ambulance but around 5.03 pm Ramcharan died. His brother-in-law was still being treated at the Intensive Care Unit yesterday. He is married to Ramcharan's sister, and they reside in New York. They came on vacation on June 16 and were expected to return to the US on Thursday.
Speaking with reporters at their Vistabella home yesterday, Ramcharan's son who was with them on Sunday said they first went to Las Cuevas Beach and then decided to go to Maracas Bay.
Recalling what happened, Adrian Ramcharan said, "The current pulled in my dad and uncle. My aunt was on the sand. Two guys tried to help them but they were going in too deep, so we flagged down the lifeguards who pulled them out." He said the lifeguards tried their best to save his dad and other beachgoers were very supportive.
Adrian recalled that the water seemed to be "normal" but then it started to get "rough" fast.
Melinda Ramcharan said their father loved the beaches on the North Coast.
However, she urged beachgoers to be careful at the beaches.
"You could go to the beach, but you don't always have to go into the water. Pay attention to the water."
Describing her father as a gem, she said he was a selfless person.
"Never smoked, drank, cursed and always looked for the good in people." He worked as a taxi driver for about 12 years, plying the Marabella to San Fernando and also did hired jobs. She said he was well-known in the areas of Vistabella, Marabella, St Margaret's and Claxton Bay.
The Susumachar Presbyterian Church extended condolences to the family via social media.
