Safety measures are set to be implemented at Devil’s Bridge following the tragic death of a tourist over the weekend.
This is according to Tourism Minister Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez who spoke to Observer a day after a Canadian man drowned after allegedly slipping off the rocks into the water at the popular tourist spot on Saturday.
Karl Gallas, 68, of Vancouver, was vacationing with his family in Antigua and staying at the Pineapple Beach Club resort.
“Devil’s Bridge is one of those places that we have put an emphasis on. That is a project that we worked with the Barrett Group to enhance and upgrade so, for example, we have toilet facilities up there, we have vendors’ booths up there where it was just sort of neglected, and we have gotten a number of compliments in terms of what we were able to do.
“We still have a few things that we want to do there,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez also spoke about the death of Gallas, referring to the matter as an unfortunate incident.
And he revealed that he would be meeting with the family today.
“Now the gentleman in question I was told went out early in the morning and was enjoying the view and he walked apparently on a part of it that he lost his balance and fell over.
“Again, the police is investigating so I can’t confirm all of this but this is the initial information I’ve had.
“Usually in situations like this we would have already reached out to the family but we will set up a meeting and I will go and meet with the family personally.
“I have done this maybe three times before since I became Minister of Tourism and it’s always been a very difficult thing to do but it is something that has to be done. Whatever else we can do while they are here we will certainly offer to do that,” Fernandez added.
Meanwhile, Rob Barrett of Elite Island Resorts – which owns the Pineapple Beach Club – said what happened was a “tremendous tragedy”. He also called for tighter safety arrangements at Devil’s Bridge, a natural rock arch on the outskirts of Willikies.
In a press release issued shortly after the tragedy, the Coast Guard urged both residents and visitors to take care when navigating potentially dangerous areas of the island. They “should always take safety measures as a priority when utilising the beaches and other sites near the marine environment”, the release added.