It was no ordinary day on February 11, 2024. According to Roger Ricardo Springer, the sea appeared very angry. Just a few hours later, he and his friend, Jeremy Adrian Payne, would be fighting to save the lives of sea-bathers at Queen Street beach, St Peter. Their efforts resulted in the rescue of four individuals. But, sadly, one young man drowned, swallowed by the boisterous waves which had seemed intent to take the lives of those who had simply set out to enjoy a day at the beach.
Their acts of bravery led to the two water sports operators shaking hands with President The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, when the newly installed President presented awards and bestowed honours on those who were recognised in their respective fields during the annual Independence Day Ceremonial Parade at Kensington Oval on November 30. They both received the Barbados Bravery Medal.
Recalling that day, Roger, who said that he always loved the sea and as a child frequented Brandon’s Beach, which was a few minutes away from his childhood home at Deacon’s Road, St Michael, described the day as “a sad one”.
The current resident of Road View, St Peter, told Easy: “I remember I was on the job at Cobblers Cove Hotel, St Peter, where I work as a water sports operator. It was just after lunchtime when a guest at the hotel ran over to the water sports shop and told us someone was drowning. I had to run from Cobblers Cove to Queen Street beach, some 130 metres away. By the time I got there, a local guy had already drowned.
Elderly couple
“I saw an old kayak nearby, grabbed it and paddled out. There were an elderly couple and a single lady nearby. I reached her first and assisted her. She then said that she was okay and would make it back to shore. When I got to the couple, who were visitors, they were fatigued. The gentleman said he saw the local guy but that he could not help him.”
Roger, 55, said the swells were vehement that day and that it took about 25 minutes to get the couple out of the ocean.
He was joined by Jeremy, who, after hearing that his friend had gone out on his own to save lives, rushed to the scene. With a surfboard in hand, the two fought the waves.
“Jeremy came out with his surfboard. When he saw what was happening, we decided to tie the surfboard to the kayak. He pulled; I paddled. When I saw the body of the guy who had drowned, it was not a good feeling. His body was going to the north, and there was nothing we could do for him. We could not let go of the living to go to him,” Roger said.
“When we reached shore, I told Jeremy I was going to look for the young man. We came back to the shore after spending about 12 minutes looking for his body. We realised it was a risk for us. It was only Jeremy and I who were helping these individuals. Many people were taking photos, but no one else helped on that day,” Roger recalled.
Jeremy, 64, of Queen Street, Speightstown, St Peter, still lives with that day constantly in his memory.
“It was rough and there were hazardous conditions. In fact, some say it was rough, but I say it had gone passed rough. The sea like it was very upset,” he said.
“I came down to go surfing. When I asked where Roger was, as he was not at the water sports shop, I was told he had gone to save somebody from drowning. I remember grabbing my surfboard and taking off like plane. I saw that Roger was in difficulty. It took me about three minutes to get out there and 25 minutes get back because the currents were unbelievably strong. The sea was dashing you about like you were a piece of trash. It was not the best morning in the world, but I was happy to help.
“After the ordeal, I felt like my blood sugar was very low. I was very exhausted. We saved four persons that day and one drowned. That was hard for me because I had met the guy that drowned a few weeks earlier, when he was employed by a company that was carrying out construction work at the hotel.”
The friends said it was not the first time they had saved people from drowning. Each is always ready to take action to save lives when any sea bather is in distress, as there is no lifeguard based on that beach.
“I go through a lot dealing with hundreds of guests each year,” Roger, the father of six, said.
Jeremy, who is married with two children, is just happy to know that his days as a boy scout, when he learned how to swim well, continue to pay off – especially in a crisis.
Encouraged
The friends had slightly different emotions about receiving the awards.
“I do not feel excited about it so much because someone died. I will always remember that day. For a long time after the incident I didn’t sleep well. When I found out I was going to be recognised, it did not move me. But Jeremy told me it was something good. My girlfriend also encouraged me to accept the award. We were not trying to be heroes that day. Since then, I went out three times in one day to rescue people at Queen Street Beach,” Roger said.
Jeremy said he was happy to meet Barbados’ new Head of State.
“I was happy to meet the new President, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic. I am pleased that he was a soldier and I also admired the way he handled things during COVID-19. It was a proud moment for me.”
Medals for their bravery or not, these two just know they have a responsibility as responsible citizens to save lives whenever duty calls. (CH)
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