Man drowns at Consett Bay after residents’ warnings

A 60-year-old St John man drowned at Consett Bay on Sunday afternoon after ignoring warnings from area residents about dangerous sea conditions, police reported.

Anderson Bradshaw, of College Savannah, was seen entering the water near the jetty at approximately 3:50 p.m. when bystanders noticed he was having difficulty. A nearby resident attempted to rescue the former fisherman but he was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical doctor after personnel from the Barbados Ambulance Service found no signs of life.

A group of residents playing cards in the area where he was last seen recalled the events of the afternoon.

John, one of the card players, described what he heard to Barbados TODAY: “He came down here yesterday apparently to go in the sea. Everybody warned him not to go, but he still went and he got into difficulties. He jumped off the jetty, got in difficulties and then floated in further up on the bay. Someone brought him ashore.”

Anderson Bradshaw

Another resident said: “The tide was pulling. I think he panicked; he got in a bit of difficulty and panicked.”

The news has left Bradshaw’s family in shock. His sister Marcia Bradshaw, with whom he lived, said she and another sister were returning from church when they received the tragic news.

Bradshaw was remembered as a helpful man who used to be a fisherman. “He was wonderful, our children were his children, he was very helpful, he helped around the house and helped other people. Anybody want anything do, he would go help them do it.”

Shermaine Lashley, his other sister, said it was hard to believe that he was gone. 

“But I believe now cause he ain’t here,” she said. “He’d be at my door 24/7, he’d be the first to knock at my window because if I ain’t get up, he’d knock at my window.”

Residents remembered Bradshaw as a quiet man who regularly visited the bay, often walking his dogs.

Southern Division Police are investigating the incident. (LG)