Relatives missing ‘jolly’ Tony

The family of Tony McDonald Leacock, who drowned at Paynes Bay beach, St James on Monday, would like to know more about the circumstances that led to their loved one’s death.

Twenty-four hours after her brother’s body was brought to shore by a watersports operator who was alerted about the discovery, the deceased’s sister Susan Leacock said she had never known her 53-year-old brother to experience any difficulty at sea.

According to police reports, Tony’s body was discovered around 1:15 p.m. Speaking from her mother’s residence in Durants Village, Holders Hill, St James, an arm’s length away from Tony’s home, Susan said that her brother could swim and he would normally ‘hang out’ at the beach with a group of friends but not go swimming.

“One of the guys that normally is with him told him not to go to the beach, that he was washing some wares and to wait on him. Apparently he went along but he doesn’t normally go in the water,” she said.

Susan said from all reports the sea conditions were favourable.

“The water was low, low, low and crystal clear,” she declared.

Susan said that she was at home laying down when her cousin told her that he “heard something” and she went to the beach to investigate.

“I could not believe it was my brother because I left him here about 9:30 washing clothes . . . I started to feel weak. It was a feeling that I just couldn’t explain. But I had to be strong because my other brothers were crying,” Susan said.

Tony’s mother Marie Leacock said she tried to compose herself when Susan told her the tragic news.

She said that at first she could not believe that her first child who had just on Monday morning completed his laundry, had drowned. She recalled telling him to go to the beach to relax as it was hot outside.

The 76 year-old said she will miss her son dearly, especially their daily morning ritual, along with his kind nature and jolly disposition.

“Every morning I would call out to Tony ‘it is time to get up to go work; it is time to get up to go work. You have to get to work at 8 o’clock; it is 7:30’, Marie recalled.

Tony worked for a couple in Buck’s View, St Thomas for more than 30 years as a gardener and they respected and trusted him. According to her if they did not see him turn up for work one day, they would drive around looking for him.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb