Overnight Search Ends in Heartbreak: Body of Missing Swetes Man Terry Tonge Recovered at Pigeon Point

An overnight search-and-rescue operation at Pigeon Point Beach ended in sorrow on Thursday morning, after the body of a 56-year-old Swetes man was recovered from the water following an extensive multi-agency effort that had begun the previous day.

Police have identified the deceased as Terry Tonge of Swetes. His body was discovered floating offshore by members of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard at approximately 6:55 a.m. on June 25, bringing an end to the search that was launched on Wednesday after he disappeared while swimming.

How It Unfolded

Tonge was reported missing on Wednesday after entering the sea for a swim. Witnesses reported seeing him in distress before he disappeared beneath the surface, prompting an immediate search involving the Coast Guard, the Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue team, police officers, and private divers. Search efforts continued for hours before being suspended overnight and resumed at first light on Thursday.

A medical doctor officially pronounced Tonge dead at 8:22 a.m.

Police have not yet disclosed the cause of death, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.

A Community in Mourning

The death of Terry Tonge is the latest in a deeply sorrowful sequence of water-related tragedies to affect Antigua and Barbuda in recent weeks, which has also included the drowning of a 19-year-old at Devil’s Bridge and the death of a 59-year-old American tourist during a scuba diving excursion near North Sound. Together, these incidents serve as a sobering reminder of the sea’s power and unpredictability — even at familiar and well-loved swimming spots.

The Royal Police Force extended condolences to Tonge’s family and loved ones as they mourn his passing.

The public is reminded to exercise caution when swimming, particularly at beaches without lifeguard supervision, to always swim with a companion, and never to enter the water alone.