Diver dies hours after returning from sea

Gripped with grief over the sudden passing of one of their own, fisherfolk along Forum Fishing Village in Portmore, are imploring their colleagues to take care of their wellbeing.

"Being a diver or fisherman is very challenging, but people nuh really understand that. Yuh have to rest and take care of yourself and yuh lungs have to good. Don't take anything for granted. A whole heap a injury the man dem get a sea. Out this side, is either them walk very slow or very fast because almost every man who go sea have injuries. Nuff a dem walk and draw dem foot because tings lick dem out deh. Nuff a dem a chase fish and tings all lick dem in deh head. Yuh have people who cripple," one woman said.

As she tried to catch a sale, a few men were seen laying on benches. The mood was sombre and it was not business as usual as one of their beloved divers, Shaquille Henry, passed away suddenly last Friday, just hours after returning from sea. Among the group was Henry's spouse and mother of his three children, Kadian. Other women cracked a few jokes, hoping to put smiles on her face; but her pain was evident.

Kadian said Henry was in a jubilant mood when she last saw him on Thursday. She however stated that he had been complaining about chest pains since Wednesday, so she had encouraged him to stay at home. But Henry was persistent and left for sea on Thursday.

"Him come from sea and mi did buy some barbeque wings for him and mi call him and mi nuh get him, and then mi video call him and mi and him a talk. The room dark and I told him to turn on the light. Him say him chest feel like it a fry. Mi tell him to drink something warm but it a happen from the Wednesday night. I told him not to go but he was so persistent that he went. I didn't even see him when he was leaving," she said.

Kadian said about two hours after she spoke with Henry on Friday morning, she received a frantic call that he had been rushed to the Spanish Town Hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

"He didn't have asthma or anything. All of this just sudden. I miss him, he was a very very good partner. I miss the good times and I miss the fights as well. It was the two of us and all when mi say mi nah talk to him, as him come park up the van a mi foot mi gone right to him. We go out with the children a lot and I am really going to miss that. Things are not going to be the same again," Kadian said.

Henry, a 30-year-old diver/boat owner, was fishing since he was a student at Greater Portmore High School. He was a prominent figure in the fishing village, and was known for his warm personality and kindness. He was also described as a dedicated father who worked tirelessly to provide for his family.

As she reflects on her late partner's ordeal, Kadian said the fisherfolk are sometimes chastised by customers who do not comprehend the dangers that the trade carries.

"People don't know say outta sea nuh easy eno, and sometimes when the buyer dem come round here and hear the fish price, dem wah class we and don't know the risks involved. People don't understand say a bottle a gas can come to all $40,000, and yuh can't go outta sea with one bottle a gas. Shaquille have an engine that has to [be] service[d] often," Kadian said.

"Diver work don't easy, it very challenging. Sometimes people come and see yuh with little fish and dem don't want dat and dem don't know say sometimes the fish dem a swim faster than the man dem," she added.