Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Search intensifies for US tourist missing on St John since last week

Lucy Schuhmann, 48, of Kentucky, USA, was reported missing on Thursday, September 19, 2019 by the proprietor of the vacation rental where she was staying in Coral Bay on St John, US Virgin Islands. Photo: VIC
VI CONSORTIUM

CORAL BAY, St John, USVI- Virgin Islands National Park (NPS) staff on St John, US Virgin Islands (USVI), planned to expand their search on Thursday morning, September 26, 2019 for Lucy Schuhmann, 48, of Kentucky, USA.

Local park staff are being assisted by technical climbing experts from other NPS units, and have also requested a small number of island residents to support their search efforts.

Weather conditions in the area continue to improve as Tropical Storm Karen moves north and away from the Virgin Islands, and all ports are open.

According to an NPS release, the ground search is being expanded Thursday as additional hiking trails, roadsides and shoreline will be searched. The park is requesting assistance from volunteers to conduct ground searches led by NPS staff. Only adults who are physically fit and acclimated to local weather conditions should volunteer.

Prospective volunteers must meet at the Salt Pond parking lot by 10:30 am on today. Volunteers must bring boots, field clothing, raingear, lunch and two refillable water bottles. Up to 16 volunteers are needed and will be released by 3:30 pm at the Salt Pond parking lot. Only persons available for the entire time should assemble. Drinking water and safety gear will be provided by the park.

Search made difficult by rough terrain

Today some of the most remote and rugged areas of the park were searched. NPS said the terrain is very steep and thickly vegetated, and conditions are hot, wet and humid. Safety of the park staff and volunteers is of concern as the recent storms have downed trees and other vegetation along hiking trails. High sea conditions have continued throughout the day and debris pose hazards to persons searching the shoreline. Much of the southern shoreline of St John is cliff and boulders, and access in many places is limited to swimming in from small watercraft.

A ground-based search of the hiking trails and shoreline, as well as marine-based snorkelers and SCUBA divers, have investigated the land and waters off of the south shore of St John. In addition, a US Coast Guard helicopter searched the area on Tuesday. No sign of the missing woman was found.

Since she was first reported missing the Virgin Islands Police Department, St John Rescue, the US Coast Guard, and volunteers have supported efforts to locate Ms Schuhmann.

She was reported missing on Thursday, September 19, 2019 by the proprietor of the vacation rental where she was staying in Coral Bay on St John. Park staff are in close contact and assisting the family of Ms Schuhmann, who request privacy at this time, according to the release.

The Park Service asks that the public refrain from visiting the Salt Pond area while the search is ongoing.

Individuals with information that they believe may assist in the search are encouraged to call 866.995.8467, option 2. NPS said it will provide regular updates via media releases and social media.

5 Responses to “Search intensifies for US tourist missing on St John since last week”



Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.