Caribbean, Antigua: Ellen Tischbin’s Tragic Death Demonstrates the Danger of Crowded Anchorages
Sailors in Falmouth Harbor, Antigua, blasted their boat horns in tribute to Ellen Tischbin, SSCA Commodore, who died after a tragic accident on Friday 22 May, and the local health care workers who battled to save her. Ellen and her husband Rob, from New Jersey, were staying in Antigua on their boat S/V Miclo 111 during the Covid crisis. Details taken from a report by the Antigua Observer.
Published 4 years ago
- Pictured are Ellen and Rob with their daughter Elizabeth – copyright Antigua Observer.
Details from Antiqua Observer Report (May 25, 2020)
Stranded in Antigua by Covid-19, an innocent afternoon dip next to her boat turned tragic when Ellen was reportedly hit by a motorised dinghy.
She was rushed by ABSAR to the Medical Surgical Associates clinic for treatment but died on Saturday night after undergoing emergency surgery.
Ellen and Rob have been cruising the Caribbean for some time and were expecting to cruise to Trinidad and Tobago. However, Covid-19 put a stop to that as they were unable to leave Antigua as planned due to the travel ban. So, they changed their plans and had looked instead into renting a villa at Jolly Beach for the upcoming hurricane season.
The Antigua Observer reports; Tischbin’s husband Robert was too distraught to speak when contacted. But a close friend of the couple said the accident occurred when Ellen decided to take a “quick swim because she loved exercising”.
“She’s a real fit woman,” he said, adding, “She was the most caring and loving woman I have ever known. It was a pleasure knowing her. She was just full of life and full of love.”
Pleas for emergency blood donations flooded social media in the aftermath of the accident.
The Antigua Tourism Minister said because of Covid-19 there are “more yachts than usual” in the area. Additionally, these vessels are docked closely together.
“The only advice is that we have to be very careful whether on water or on land,” he added. Police spokesman Inspector Frankie Thomas confirmed the incident was under investigation. He added that 68-year-old British sailor William Lyne, who apparently struck Tischbin with his dinghy while returning to his yacht, was assisting with inquiries.
Related Links:
Read the full report at https://antiguaobserver.com/us-tourist-dies-after-swimming-accident-2/
Noonsite has not independently verified this information.
June 3, 2020: Follow up Article by Antigua Observer – No Charges – https://antiguaobserver.com/no-charges-for-tragic-tourists-death/