Hardworking vendor dies while picking coconuts

Popular gospel singer Sister Margrita Marshall and her family have been plunged into mourning following the death of her son, Stephen Marshall.

The 54-year-old coconut vendor of Quakers Road, Belmont Road, St Michael fell to his death on Friday morning while picking coconuts in the close-knit community of Walkes, St Thomas, sometime between 9:30 and 10 o’clock.

Marshall was one of two men picking coconuts when his tree snapped just below him, sending him and the top of the tree to the ground.

Two other men were standing by at the time.

Marshall was pronounced dead on the scene by medical personnel.

Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Rodney Inniss said officers at the District ‘D’ Police Station were notified of the incident minutes after 10 a.m.

“We estimated that he fell approximately 40 to 50 feet,” said Inniss, who said investigations were ongoing.

Inniss again appealed to Barbadians not to circulate photos of people’s deaths on social media, warning that this could be traumatic for loved ones, especially if they have not been formally notified of the death.

“You would find that persons would have already sent out images on social media of this morning’s sad occurrence, and we continue to literally beg members of the public not to do that because it doesn’t serve any good to anybody, especially those grieving family members,” said Inniss.

“It is not good to see your loved ones all over social media in circumstances like that. So, again, we are continuing to appeal to persons to desist from that behaviour. It is not good, it is not palatable and certainly it is not fair to the family.”

When a Barbados TODAY team arrived on the scene around 11:30 a.m., police officers were already on location and a handful of people started gathering.

Two men who identified themselves as relatives of the deceased told Barbados TODAY they were too distraught to talk, adding that they would prefer “not to relive” the moment. Marshall’s sister, who later came on the scene, was also too flustered to speak with the media.

However, two of the eyewitnesses who were assisting in the harvesting of the coconuts recounted the incident as they told reporters they were devastated by the death of their close friend.

Anthony Price said he was standing at the foot of the tree that had the other climber when “all of a sudden, I heard a snap and when I look beside me he [Marshall] was on the ground”.

“I was in shock. Everything happened so fast I could not believe it. I am very devastated because all of us live together and now we have to go without him . . . . We will miss him, that is the truth,” said Price, who described Marshall as a “very good fellow” who made others laugh.

He said he has been working with Marshall for more than 10 years.

Price said picking coconuts at the St Thomas location was a common activity for them to do together and they always operated with safety gear.

Also describing Marshall as a person who found pleasure in making others happy, long-time friend Selwyn Maynard said he, too, was devastated.

“It is just unexplainable,” said Maynard, who recalled both him and Marshall surviving falls from coconut trees in the past.

“I know Stephen now well over 30 years,” he added, noting that the men all operated from Tweedside Road, St Michael.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb