A post mortem examination carried out on the body of British national, John Edward Garner last Friday revealed that he died as a result of multiple-trauma resulting from blast injuries.
Last week Wednesday March 26th, Police received reports at approximately 12:30p.m., that a yacht was seen on fire at sea off the Buccament waters on the leeward section of the mainland, and that and that there was a loud explosion.
The Coastguard Service responded immediately to the report, and Garner’s body was discovered with injuries to both of his legs as well as to his head. Prior to the coastguard’s arrival, personnel of Indigo Dive, St. Vincent, had responded to the incident and had found Garner’s body floating in the water.
Garner was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police say the postmortem examination further indicated that Garner’s injuries ruptured his Heart, Aorta, Stomach, Head and Ribs.
Officers of the Coastguard Service disclosed that debris and an oil spill were found at the scene of the incident where Garner’s catamaran, ‘ASANTE’, had sunk. The Catamaran is registered in Gibraltar.
Garner, who was born on October 6th, 1950, arrived in the state on Sunday, January 19th, via air along with his wife, Heidi Hukke-laas, and was granted an extension to remain in the state no longer than April 19, 2014. The couple reportedly got married in October 2012.
According to the Police, investigations show that Hukkelaas, a Norwegian, left the state on Tuesday, March 25th, via the J.F. Mitchell Airport on the Grenadine isle of Bequia and is not a person of interest at this time. Police say it is believed that Garner was the lone individual on the catamaran.
The local Police Force has been in contact with the British High Commission and Garner’s relatives.
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