Two National Sportsmen Dead

An amateur boxer who medaled at two boxing championships and a former National Under-23 goalkeeper died over the weekend in separate incidents.

The boxing fraternity is still coming to grips with the death of one of St Lucia’s young amateur boxers who passed away Sunday afternoon in tragic circumstances.

It is reported that former national Boxer Garfield Gustave Jean of Odsan, drowned after jumping off a boat in the waters of Malgretoute beach in Soufriere. It has been reported that Jean was having a good time before he decided to take a fun plunge.

He is believed to have been under water for some time before being rescued and CPR being performed on him but he did not recover. Jean represented St Lucia at several regional boxing events and won medals for this country at the OECS Boxing Championships and the Creole Boxing championships in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Former St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association President (SLABA), Joseph “Reds” Perreira was the association’s president when Jean was very active in the sport. Here’s what he had to say: “He was a great talent, had a great spirit and he was very gifted. The coaches were always saying that he was probably the most talented if only he would drive himself and work a little harder. But he had a very laissez-faire attitude to life. He didn’t take advantage of his talent and we were hoping he would have maybe found that little commitment. He had great support from his mother. We remember when he first got his passport travelling for St Lucia it was his mother who was right there with him at the immigration office to ensure that all was well. She gave him love and support and would help the association to get him to attend training. I don’t think he fulfilled his highest level.”

Another sportsman also passed away on Sunday. Former Under-23 National goalkeeper Darren Prince of Dennery died after allegedly consuming a deadly weedicide.