[UPDATED] Family of missing Tobago man looks to the sea for closure

ALL TOBAGO Fisherfolk Association president Curtis Douglas says the relatives and friends of Ritchie Cox, who went missing at sea last week, are longing for closure.

Cox, 21, went missing on April 11 during a fishing expedition with a friend at Black Beach in Black Rock.

A body believed to be that of Cox was spotted briefly in the sea on April 13 but had disappeared by the time divers reachedthe scene.

“The body was spotted only once, but since then there have been no sighting of him,” Douglas told Newsday on April 15.

He said apart from the divers and volunteers, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Coast Guard and fisherfolk are assisting with the search for Cox, who is said to have loved the sea since childhood.

“I must say TEMA is out in their numbers and they are communicating with us. Mr Alvin Douglas (of Frontier Divers Ltd) is also seriously assisting us, working with the fisherfolk to ensure that we could have some kind of closure to this.”

Douglas said the villagers of Black Rock and surrounding districts have also been offering moral support to the family.

“From Fort Bennett right down to Grafton Beach Hotel, everyone is searching for Mr Cox and they have said they will not rest until they find him.”

He said Cox’s mother, who has been coming to the beach every day, is hoping for a miracle.

“She said all she wants to do is just hug him for the last time to get that closure and we are working assiduously to see how best we could make that happen. She is there early in the morning to late in the evening. The entire family is out.”

Douglas said the family is hurting and must be “showered with love.”

He said pessimism is not an option.

“Once you are in the land of the living, the one thing I have learnt to have is hope. So we have hope that we could bring some kind of closure or some kind of miracle to his family.

“The fisherfolk and people in the community are showing hope, great resilience and co-operation.”

Police said around 4.50pm on April 11, Cox and his friend went to Black Beach to fish in an orange kayak.

The friend, police said, observed that the water was rough, but Cox insisted they head in.

The men put the kayak in the water and tried to make their way to Grafton Beach.

But according to reports, the water started to fill the kayak and they had to abandon it and swim.

Police said while swimming the men encountered difficulties. Cox’s friend managed to swim to shore but Cox was reportedly pulled underwater by the strong currents.

Shirvan Road police and the TT Coast Guard responded and investigations are continuing.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

ALL TOBAGO Fisherfolk Association president Curtis Douglas says the relatives and friends of Ritchie Cox, who went missing at sea last week, are longing for closure.

Cox, 21, went missing on April 11 during a fishing expedition with a friend at Black Beach in Black Rock.

A body believed to be that of Cox was spotted briefly in the sea on April 13 but it disappeared by the time the divers reached to the scene.

“The body was spotted only once but since then there have been no sighting of him,” Douglas told Newsday on April 15.

He said apart from the divers and volunteers, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Coast Guard and fisherfolk are assisting with the search for the man, who is said to have loved the sea since childhood.

“I must say TEMA is out in their numbers and they are communicating with us. Mr Alvin Douglas (of Frontier Divers Ltd) is also seriously assisting us, working with the fisherfolk to ensure that we could have some kind of closure to this.”

Douglas said the villagers of Black Rock and surrounding districts have also been offering moral support to the family.

“From Fort Bennett right down to Grafton Beach Hotel, everyone is searching for Mr Cox and they have said they will not rest until they find him.”