ANSE COCHON, Saint Lucia — The Anse Cochon boat collision has claimed four lives after search teams recovered the bodies of two missing men off Anse La Raye Bay on Wednesday morning, bringing a three-day search operation to a close following the crash between Ocean Angel and Mango Tours.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force identified the men as Marley William and Tyrone Elivique, both of Baron’s Drive, Soufrière. They had remained missing since the vessels collided near Anse Cochon late Saturday night.
Their recovery brought the confirmed death toll to four and marked the end of an intensive search involving marine personnel and emergency responders along Saint Lucia’s west coast.
Final Victims Recovered Off Anse La Raye
Police said the bodies of William and Elivique were recovered in waters off Anse La Raye Bay between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The men had been unaccounted for since the vessels collided at about 11:55 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Their disappearance prompted a multi-agency search that continued across several days and covered waters surrounding Anse Cochon, Anse La Raye and Canaries.
Police previously confirmed the deaths of 21-year-old Mhakeida Nestor of La Fargue, Choiseul, and 25-year-old Debbie Dolor of Market Road, Soufrière.
The deaths of the four victims, together with the injuries suffered by 14 other people, have made the incident a major maritime tragedy for Saint Lucia.
Police extended condolences to the families, relatives and loved ones of those who died. The tragedy has also affected several west coast communities, particularly Soufrière and Choiseul, where the victims lived.
Search Operation Covered West Coast Waters
Police Marine Unit personnel searched waters near the collision site and surrounding coastal communities for several days after the crash.
A major search resumed at about 6 a.m. Monday and covered an area extending roughly two nautical miles west of Anse Cochon. Search teams also moved south toward Canaries Bay and north toward Anse La Raye as efforts continued to locate the two missing men.
No sightings were reported during that phase of the operation. Search personnel remained active until both bodies were recovered Wednesday morning off Anse La Raye Bay.
The recovery brought the search operation to an end after days of uncertainty for the victims’ families and the wider community.
The response involved personnel from several agencies, including the Police Marine Unit, which has also handled previous marine recovery operations, along with the Saint Lucia Fire Service and Coast Guard.
Cause of Anse Cochon Boat Collision Still Being Investigated
Preliminary information indicates Mango Tours was travelling south while Ocean Angel was proceeding toward the northern part of the island when the vessels collided.
Mango Tours sank following the impact, while Ocean Angel also sustained damage. Police later confirmed that wreckage from both vessels had been retrieved as part of the continuing investigation.
Fourteen people were injured and initially received treatment at Soufrière Hospital. Those requiring more advanced medical care were transferred to Saint Lucia’s two main hospitals.
Police have not released a current breakdown of the injured patients’ conditions or stated whether any remain hospitalised.
No arrests or charges have been announced. Any determination of responsibility or fault remains unproven pending the outcome of the police investigation and the planned Commission of Inquiry.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading to the collision, including the movements of both vessels before the impact. However, police have not publicly identified speed, visibility, navigation, mechanical failure or any other factor as the cause of the crash.
Authorities have also not announced whether toxicology testing, vessel inspections or other specialist examinations will form part of the investigation.
Until those findings are released, the circumstances that caused the collision remain unresolved.
Government Announces Commission of Inquiry
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced Wednesday that the government will establish a Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
In an official government statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said the governor general will formally appoint the commission, which is expected to be chaired by a former high-ranking member of the judiciary.
Maritime operations and marine safety specialists, along with a police investigator, are also expected to serve on the panel.
The government said the commission will be tasked with establishing the facts surrounding the collision and recommending measures to strengthen maritime safety, improve regulatory oversight and reduce the risk of similar incidents.
The inquiry is also expected to examine whether existing procedures, enforcement mechanisms and safety standards provide adequate protection for passengers and operators using Saint Lucia’s coastal waters.
Pierre said the loss of life underscored the government’s responsibility to determine what occurred and identify lessons that could help prevent another tragedy.
He also commended the Police Marine Unit, Saint Lucia Fire Service, Coast Guard, medical personnel and other responders involved in the search, rescue and recovery operations.
The government had not released the commission’s terms of reference, appointment date or timetable as of Wednesday.
Those details will determine the inquiry’s precise scope, the evidence it will be authorised to examine and when its findings may become available to the public.
