Hubert Haynes, 85, drowned at Maxwell Beach, Christ Church, yesterday.
His son Alvin described his father, a retired architect and instructor at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, as very fit and a strong swimmer.
“He used to go to the beach three or four mornings a week at the beach opposite Golden Sands [Apartment Hotel]. He was even a member of the Miami Dolphins [a swim club which frequents Miami Beach],” said Alvin.
Hubert resided in Fairholme Gardens, Maxwell, Christ Church.
“Normally, he goes with his brother . . . and comes back around 7:30 a.m.,” Alvin said, “but around 8:30 a.m. I still hadn’t seen him, so I called my uncle who told me he hadn’t seen him all morning. That’s when I really got concerned.”
Alvin said he had a bad feeling when he left home to go in search of his father.
“I took a drive to the beach he frequents and took a quick look around but didn’t see him in the water so I headed to Welches beach and still didn’t see him. It was when I was on my way to ‘Miami Beach’ [that] I saw a police car blazing past in the opposite direction,” he said.
Alvin said “something” told him to follow the police vehicle and when he did so, he ended up back at the first place he visited. However, this time he was greeted by the sight of his father dead on the sand.
“This is a shock, but it is interesting that he died doing something he enjoyed doing – swimming. This is my only consolation,” he said.
Haynes leaves to mourn three sons – Alvin, Dr John Haynes and Jimmy Haynes, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. (CA)
