Man Drowns In ‘Treacherous’ Waters Of Peterborg Point; Second Victim Survives

ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Police Department on Friday reported an incident that occurred in the waters of Peterborg Point on Thursday, leaving one victim dead and another injured.

According to police, officers from the Mariel C. Newton Command’s rescue units, along with emergency medical technicians (EMTs), the V.I.P.D.’s marine unit and the Criminal Investigative Bureau, traveled on Thursday at 9:40 p.m. to Peterborg Point relative to two males in distress in the ocean.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with a Caucasian male resting on rocks, who had suffered abrasions about his body, according to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte. He was transported to the Schneider Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Officers from the V.I.P.D ‘s marine unit located another Caucasian male in the ocean who was unresponsive. EMTs later confirmed that the victim had no signs of life, according to Mr. Dratte.

Mr. Dratte said the identity of the deceased victim was being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Peterborg Point is known as a dangerous area in St. Thomas, with multiple serious incidents occurring there over the years. The last reported incident occurred in March 2016, when a Florida woman drowned after falling into what was described by the V.I.P.D. as “the treacherous waters” of Peterborg Point.

Identified as 22-year-old Savannah Rey Finn of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ms. Finn’s boyfriend and friends were desperately attempting to rescue her by the time St. Thomas Rescue arrived on the scene, according to police. However, after resurfacing once and at which point she had appeared to be lifeless, the rough ocean consumed Ms. Finn, who then “disappeared,” according to St. Thomas Rescue Chief Liston Thomas. Mr. Thomas added that the high surf and rough waters prevented his members from rescuing Ms. Finn.

Ms. Finn’s friends and boyfriend, who had washed off the rocks during their attempts to save the victim, managed to climb onto the rocks and were rescued, according to the V.I.P.D.

The search for Ms. Finn’s body eventually ended with negative results. Her body was never found.