Tragedy hits Catholic school

Tragedy has hit the Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Catholic School in Barnerville Estate community, leaving three students of the school drowned in the Atlantic Ocean, while trying to save a female colleague.

According to reports, the students were taken to the beach over the weekend by a Catholic youth organization “Don Bosco Youth” for a retreat when the incident happened. Officials of the organization were seen at some of the deceased residence on Sunday.

The entire Barnesville Estate momentary stood still after news of the deaths broke in the community with parents, friends and relatives of the deceased crying.

The deceased have been identified as Rictherford Koon, a.k.a “Rich Kid” of the 11th Grade; Charles Walker, a.k.a. “Walkshizo Temochinko Walker” and Moses Dorbor, a.k.a “Koiyan” both of the 12th Grand class.

Reports gathered by this paper from one of the students (name withheld) said on Saturday, May 16, 2015 they were taking to Banjor Community in Brewerville Township outside of Monrovia to Tina Beach by a local Catholic school-based organization, “Don Bosco youth” for a retreat.

The student further narrated that upon arrival at the beach, they were instructed by their head (not identified)  not to swim in the sea, which prompted some of them to move to the nearest beach area commonly known as Obama beach, which has lots of rocks, to take pictures.

“While we were on Obama beach, the water started carrying two of our classmates and that’s how Rictherford jumped in the water to save them. He swim and pushed the girl out of the sea, but while trying to save our other friend, his head hit the rock,” the student narrated in tears.

He said while “Rich Kid” was drowning, they asked a Ghanaian fisherman to help rescue him, but the Ghanaian requested for US$10 dollar, which they did have, prompting some of his schoolmates to jump into the sea to save his life.

Charles Walker and two other students were rescued, and Charles was later take to the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, but doctors referred him to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Sinkor due to the lack of oxygen. While on their way to the JFK, Charles died in the car.

The bodies of the other two, Rictherford Koon and Moses Dorbor, were found on Sunday, 17 May; Moses was buried on Monady due to the condition of his remains, while Rictherford and Charles’ bodies have been deposited at the Abraham Roberts and St. Moses funeral homes, respectively in Gardnersville, pending funeral arrangements. 

This paper was rightly informed that Charles Walker is the only child of his parents, while Rictherford Koon was scheduled to go to the United States of America early next month. By Ben P. Wesee – Edited by Jonathan Browne