We give thanks the three West Bay men and the two Jamaican nationals who were reported missing at sea on Thursday Aug 23^rd were traced and found to be well.

James Michael Ebanks, Sidney Henry Ebanks and William Miguel Bush, with two Jamaicans, were onboard a canoe when it left Grand Cayman on Sunday 19 August, heading for Jamaica.

When the men had not returned to Grand Cayman as expected, family members gave the alarm and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) contacted the United States Coastguard, Jamaican authorities and informed passing vessels to be on the lookout for the canoe.

An extensive sea and air search was immediately mounted utilising the RCIPS air and marine assets. The search pattern extended from Cayman Brac towards Jamaica.

A canoe was sighted late on Wednesday evening (22 August) approximately 17 miles south of Cayman Brac, by the crew of a passing cargo ship.

It has not been established if this sighting was the missing canoe.

Because of worsening weather conditions the air and sea search had to be suspended over the weekend of  25/26 Aug and resumed the following Monday.

Then on Friday 31^st the canoe was spotted shortly after 6.00 in the morning approximately 150 yards off Frank Sound. The Marine Unit was deployed and the canoe was towed to shore. All five men were transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands George Town Hospital for check-ups. None appeared the worse for wear.

On CITN/Cayman27 one of the men said they ran out of gas and the engine blew. They had to use a tarpaulin to make a sail to get back to Cayman.

He also said he would not be going out to sea anytime soon.

“Only time I’ll go back now is to Stingray City with my family,” he added.

The purpose of the trip has not been disclosed and this has raised much speculation. Much of it has centred on the “fishy” nature of the whole event. The only comment I have gleaned from the RCIPS was “the three West Bay men are known to us.” Then it was tight lipped.

However, we still give thanks at their safe return.