Body recovered at Rotary Sunshine Park

Police confirm death of 19-year-old woman

The body of a 19-year-old woman who drowned in a swimming accident at the Rotary Sunshine Park off Bennett’s Road in St. Philip’s on Friday, July 1, was recovered by divers just before 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the popular swimming area at 5 p.m. on Friday after reports of a woman in trouble in the water. Upon their arrival, the woman and gone underwater despite the efforts of two teenage boys to try to save her.

The woman had apparently been on an inflatable rubber dingy when she accidentally fell overboard and was unable to get back to it.

The two teenagers were visibly shaken and upset when The Telegram arrived at the scene just after 5 p.m. and were being comforted by St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) firefighter/ paramedic Craig Smith.

SJRFD cold-water rescue team members Corey Williams, Mike Newhook and Jim O’toole searched for the woman, but to no avail, as the water at the time was very murky.

Around 8 p.m. on Friday, SJRFD shift-superintendent Mike Hall confirmed that the woman had drowned, and searchers were in a recovery mode.

The Rovers Ground Search and Rescue unit later arrived at the scene and set up large searchlights. Divers from Sea-force Diving found the woman’s body several hours later, on Saturday morning.

A portion of the Rotary Sunshine Park was closed to the public until Saturday afternoon.