An extensive and active search and rescue operation involving the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Operation Bahamas Turks &Caicos (OPBAT), the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), and the US Coast Guard was suspended on August 21, 2023, pending new information.

The search was initiated when the RBDF Operations Command Center received a report on theevening of August 19 regarding a twin Cessna (C402) aircraft that had departed from FortLauderdale/Hollywood International Airport en route to North Eleuthera, carrying a 70-year-oldmale passenger. The aircraft was last sighted by Fort Lauderdale towers, positioned 18 nauticalmiles northeast of Bimini.

On the morning of August 20, OPBAT conducted an initial aerial search for several hours. RBDFsurface assets, namely the HMBS Kamalamee and the RBDF Harbour Patrol Unit Safe boat, weredeployed to the last known location. Additionally, USCG, RBDF, and RBPF aircraft participatedin aerial searches. All deployed assets reported negative sightings of the overdue aircraft.

Subsequent investigations by BASRA revealed that the overdue aircraft had not landed at any ofthe major airports in the northern and central Bahamas. OPBAT continued its search efforts nearthe aircraft's last known position from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM on August 20. Despite challengingweather conditions, search operations persisted into the afternoon of August 21, 2023. Regrettably,both aerial and surface assets were unsuccessful in yielding any results.

The Commander Defence Force is committed to fostering collaboration between the RBDF, locallaw enforcement agencies and regional partners. Through joint operations and proactiveinformation sharing, these strategic alliances serve as force multipliers.

The RBDF is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage. We are committedto upholding the highest standards as we protect and preserve the rich legacy that defines ournation.

For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit ourofficial website at* [*www.rbdf.gov.bs](http://www.rbdf.gov.bs ""). Connect with us onFacebook and Twitter for the latest updates, and explore our engaging content on ourYouTube channel.

An extensive and active search and rescue operation involving the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Operation Bahamas Turks & Caicos (OPBAT), the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), and the US Coast Guard was suspended on August 21, 2023, pending new information. The search was initiated when the RBDF Operations Command Center received a report on the evening of August 19 regarding a twin Cessna (C402) aircraft that had departed from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport en route to North Eleuthera, carrying a 70-year-old male passenger. The aircraft was last sighted by Fort Lauderdale towers, positioned 18 nautical miles northeast of Bimini. On the morning of August 20, OPBAT conducted an initial aerial search for several hours. RBDF surface assets, namely the HMBS Kamalamee and the RBDF Harbour Patrol Unit Safe boat, were deployed to the last known location. Additionally, USCG, RBDF, and RBPF aircraft participated in aerial searches. All deployed assets reported negative sightings of the overdue aircraft. Subsequent investigations by BASRA revealed that the overdue aircraft had not landed at any of the major airports in the northern and central Bahamas. OPBAT continued its search efforts near the aircraft's last known position from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM on August 20. Despite challenging weather conditions, search operations persisted into the afternoon of August 21, 2023. Regrettably, both aerial and surface assets were unsuccessful in yielding any results. The Commander Defence Force is committed to fostering collaboration between the RBDF, local law enforcement agencies and regional partners. Through joint operations and proactive information sharing, these strategic alliances serve as force multipliers. The RBDF is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage. We are committed to upholding the highest standards as we protect and preserve the rich legacy that defines our nation. For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our official website at* [*www.rbdf.gov.bs](http://www.rbdf.gov.bs ""). Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, and explore our engaging content on our YouTube channel.

FESTIVITIES at the Aura nightclub in Atlantis ended abruptly on Sunday night when a reveller suffered a gruesome injury that left his foot partially severed.

 

A video sent to The Tribune showed a man in distress on the club’s floor as a woman carefully held his foot in her hand, trying to prevent an even worse injury. #An eyewitness recalled hearing a woman screaming for help before seeing a man on the ground with blood all around his ankle area.  # “I saw him on the ground once the music stopped because it stopped kind of abruptly because everyone was confused and you kind of look over to the DJ’s wall and he’s on the floor and you see blood on his ankle or his foot is in a weird twisty direction,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.  # “I don’t like blood, so I was gagging and trying to run away but my friends were there, and they were looking at it and we all thought his foot snapped. We didn’t really get close enough to see like his foot was off of his body.”  # “And so, they kicked us all out. They told us all to leave and as I was leaving, three police officers were coming inside and from there I got the video and I saw what happened and it was something else. It was wild.”  # The woman said nothing was suspicious to suggest that a fight or a shooting occurred.   # “That’s the part where we have no idea,” she said,  “It looks like he was shot or someone sawed his foot off, but I don’t know anything for a fact and we didn’t hear anything that sounded like a gunshot.”  # “It was just strange.”  # Atlantis representatives declined to comment. # Police officials also offered no comment up to press time yesterday. 

A video sent to The Tribune showed a man in distress on the club’s floor as a woman carefully held his foot in her hand, trying to prevent an even worse injury.

An eyewitness recalled hearing a woman screaming for help before seeing a man on the ground with blood all around his ankle area. 

“I saw him on the ground once the music stopped because it stopped kind of abruptly because everyone was confused and you kind of look over to the DJ’s wall and he’s on the floor and you see blood on his ankle or his foot is in a weird twisty direction,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous. 

“I don’t like blood, so I was gagging and trying to run away but my friends were there, and they were looking at it and we all thought his foot snapped. We didn’t really get close enough to see like his foot was off of his body.” 

“And so, they kicked us all out. They told us all to leave and as I was leaving, three police officers were coming inside and from there I got the video and I saw what happened and it was something else. It was wild.” 

The woman said nothing was suspicious to suggest that a fight or a shooting occurred.  

“That’s the part where we have no idea,” she said,  “It looks like he was shot or someone sawed his foot off, but I don’t know anything for a fact and we didn’t hear anything that sounded like a gunshot.” 

“It was just strange.” 

Atlantis representatives declined to comment.

Police officials also offered no comment up to press time yesterday. 

 

A young man is dead on Grand Bahama following an industrial accident on Tuesday at the Freeport Harbour Industrial site.

The incident occurred shortly after 11am at Executive Marine Management, where a 29-year-old employee was electrocuted when the vehicle he was operating came in contact with a power line.   #Police officials went to the scene to investigate.   #Preliminary police investigations revealed that the employee was operating a heavy-duty forklift tractor when it accidentally touched the power line, which was attached to the utility poles. #Emergency Medical Services technicians were dispatched to the scene. They examined the victim but found no signs of life. #After conducting their investigations, morticians arrived and transported the body to the morgue at Rand Memorial Hospital. #Executive Marine Management is a private company providing ship services for vessels calling at Freeport.

The incident occurred shortly after 11am at Executive Marine Management, where a 29-year-old employee was electrocuted when the vehicle he was operating came in contact with a power line.  

Police officials went to the scene to investigate.  

Preliminary police investigations revealed that the employee was operating a heavy-duty forklift tractor when it accidentally touched the power line, which was attached to the utility poles.

Emergency Medical Services technicians were dispatched to the scene. They examined the victim but found no signs of life.

After conducting their investigations, morticians arrived and transported the body to the morgue at Rand Memorial Hospital.

Executive Marine Management is a private company providing ship services for vessels calling at Freeport.

Resigne Tilien Dorely, 46, sat silently on a pile of rubble yesterday and watched as the remnants of his home, and several others in a     Haitian shantytown off Fire Trail Road, burned to ash.

Dorely only had his wallet and a black drawstring bag left. He said everything else he owned, his documents, some money, clothes and other items, were lost to the fire.

"I ain't got money now and I don't know what I can do," said Dorely when asked if he had a place to sleep last night.

The small shantytown off Bellot Road was made up of about 15 homes with roughly 50 residents, according to officials.

The fire, which was reported around 10 a.m., ripped through the area, leaving a smouldering pile of ash, old rusted tin roofs and other debris, including clothes, appliances and gas tanks.

The area was abuzz with firefighters, curious neighbors and despondent residents.

Some children ran through the streets but others stood still and watched the dying fire burn. A thick cloud of smoke permeated the area, at times billowing into the crowd.

Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the flames, though some residents claimed firefighters were slow to act.

It was unclear how the fire started.

Rosny Fertil, like other residents who spoke with The Nassau Guardian, said he lost everything.

"I just fix my house with 40 sheet of plywood and now no house," said Fertil, who said he's lived in the community for 36 years.

He added, "Now what I got? Where I stand? I live just like dog. Dogs sleep everywhere, so that's what I have to do."

Fertil said he was at work when his wife called him.

"[She] said fire catching in the yard," he said.

"I said, 'What you want me do?'

"She say, 'Run fast and see what you could do.'"

Ando Francois, 51, another resident, said he will turn to God for help.

"Only God can help me," he said with a smile.

Francois, who said he's a mason by trade, said he lived in the community for 15 years.

He was not home when the fire started, he said, but raced back when he heard the news.

When he arrived, the first thing he noticed was his burning truck.

"I lost everything," he said, still smiling.

"I didn't find anything when I went to look."

Asked where he planned to sleep last night, Francois said he was hoping to sleep at a friend's house.

Another resident, Rose Gustave, did not want to speak with The Guardian.

Sitting underneath a tree, some ways away from the commotion, she was surrounded by clothes hampers with the little she managed to save. It was mostly clothes and a few other items.

Gustave, who was barefoot, held her head and stared at the ground.

Her daughter, Nikia Gustave, said, "All her documents are gone. Do you know how much money that is?

"Not just hers, my little brother, my older brother, and my daddy, all their residence is gone."

Gustave, who did not live in the shantytown, said she will provide refuge for her family.

She said she was at work when she got a call that the community was ablaze.

For those who are not as lucky to have alternative housing, Skippings said officials from the Department of Social Services will help.

When asked about those residents who lost their residency documents, Skippings said, "At this time, we are not focusing on documents right now. We are focusing on saving their lives.

"They are also human beings despite what is going on in Haiti at this time. As a country, we have an obligation to ensure that their basic welfare needs are met."

A police officer was at the scene taking police reports from residents for their lost documents - passports, work permits, permanent residence, driver's licenses and more.