Police investigate death of British visitor at Paynes Bay

Police are continuing investigations into the suspected drowning of an elderly British national, amid speculation that she may have ended her own life.

Lawmen were summoned to Paynes Bay, St James where the woman, whose name has been withheld until her next of kin has been notified, was found floating in the water around 1:30 p.m.

A police statement said a group of workmen on the roadway reported that they saw an elderly Caucasian woman cross the road and go into the water.

She “walked naked into the sea, . . . fell face first into the water and her body floated in the water as the tide took her about 200 metres out to sea”.

The Coast Guard was summoned and the woman’s body was recovered. She was subsequently pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

The victim’s neighbour and friend, who declined to disclose her name, told Barbados TODAY that the elderly woman, who was a repeat visitor, was staying at a nearby apartment at Chapel Gap #1, Paynes Bay.

She said she had seen the visitor earlier in the day, but when she went to check on her around 1 p.m. she realized she was not there, so she went to the beach where she learned of the tragedy.

“I saw the back of her floating on the water and saw the clothes on the beach, so I knew it was her in the water. I asked a man how long she was in the water before I came down, and he said 20 mins floating.

“She had issues over here and issues back home,” the woman lamented. “I wish I was there to help her a bit more, definitely. This is sad news.” (BT)