UPDATE: 'Chris' & 'Sammy' injured but stable following boat race accident
The two men have been identified as Ricardo S. Leonard aka ‘Sammy’, the boat owner, and the boat mechanic Christopher Cooke aka ‘Chris’ who lives on Virgin Groda.
The accident took place while racing another power boat ‘Tempo’, owned by Alvin Hodge aka ‘Tattoo’, in a highly anticipated race that drew thousands of onlookers, as well as the media on both land and sea.
What caused the flipping?
While the cause of the accident is unclear, it appears that Sammy’s Big Pimpin capsized (flipped) moments after passing Tattoo’s Tempo and making a sharp turn.
Some have speculated that the skegg, which is the sternward extension and a part of controlling the rudder which adjusts the boat’s centre of lateral resistance of Big Pimpin, broke off contributing to it capsizing; however, this theory cannot be independently confirmed by our newsroom.
Current condition of both men
Meanwhile, it is our newsroom’s understanding that Mr Leonard may have suffered a broken pelvis and Mr Cooke may have experienced a collapsed lung; however, our hospital sources close to the two patients promised to have a full update to our newsroom by the end of the day.
The boat Big Pimpin has been recovered from sea and is now back on Virgin Gorda to review if it can be repaired. However, the immediate concern by family, friends and fans is the health and speedy recovery of both men, and to ensure they are both exposed to the best medical care available, even if that means they have to be flown overseas, according to family members.
See previous article published June 11, 2017
Tragedy @ big boat race; Sammy's boat flipped; Persons rushed to hospital
Thousands came out, with some on three party boats, while others watched on land around the Beef Island, Belle Vue and Hawk Nest areas for what was billed as the 'Mother of All Boat Races' today June 11, 2017.
It was a boat race with much hype and anticipation among Ricardo S. Leonard aka 'Sammy' of Virgin Gorda with his boat Big Pimpin, Alvin Hodge aka 'Tattoo' with 'Tempo', and Loring George aka Pipe's boat, unofficially named Ram Cat.
There was talk of two of the boaters expressing concern about the rough seas but in the end at least two boats started the race-- Tattoo and Sammy.
Boat flipped over
Moments after the race started between the two boats, something went wrong, causing Mr Leonard's Big Pimpin boat to capsize, throwing two passengers, Sammy and his American mechanic, overboard.
Both men were immediately rescued and brought to shore where they were met by an ambulance and rushed to Peebles Hospital in Road Town, where both men remain as of publication time.
The race was then postponed, to the disappointment of many fans who came from Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke and Anegada and all parts of the main island of Tortola to witness this big boat race.
It is unclear if Big Pimpin can be saved as it is being brought to shore. The boat is a 36 Skater.
We will keep the public updated on the condition of the two persons injured in the boat race mishap.
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56 Responses to “UPDATE: 'Chris' & 'Sammy' injured but stable following boat race accident”
Hope and pray they both recover.
Pay back is a &!tch.
Ashes to ashes duss to duss, look pon obeah and tell me who go dead first.
I've seen the word stupid in the dictionary. There's no such word as strups.