St. Kitts releases names of three deceased Cameroonians after autopsies conclude they drowned

Following calls by local residents and families in Cameroon for the identification of the persons involved in March 28 boat tragedy, the names of the deceased have been made public. 

On Saturday, April 22, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force issued a document with the autopsy results and the identity of the three Cameroonian victims.

The deceased are Derick Anga Azia and Verdo Motor, both males, and Zeta Bertrand, a female.  Their ages, reportedly, are not known.

A post-mortem examination conducted on the men, on April 19, and on the woman, on April 21, concluded that their cause of death was mechanical asphyxia as a result of drowning. 

The trio lost their lives when the small boat on which they were traveling – allegedly to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – capsized in waters off St. Kitts. 

Reports say there were 32 people onboard the vessel, including two Antiguans.  Just over a dozen of them were rescued alive that same morning, while 14 remain missing and are presumed dead. The survivors were transported to St. Kitts, where they remain.

Investigations into the tragedy continue in St. Kitts and Guadeloupe, where the allegedly stolen boat was registered.

Relatives in Africa and Europe reportedly are still attempting to obtain information about their loved ones.