BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 29th November 2019) – A 21-year-old male visitor to St.Kitts who recently went hiking alone was found injured after getting lost while trying to explore Mount Liamuiga which comes months after a similar incident involving another tourist.
Found was Jayme Houle of Canada.
Police received a report on Wednesday 20th November 2019 at about 5:45 p.m. that someone was lost at Mount Liamuiga.
As informed, in response, a joint search and rescue team comprising members of the Police Force, the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Service, and the Emergency Medical Service was formed immediately. The search began for 21-year-old Jayme Houle of Canada who had gone hiking alone. He had fallen down the mountain side, got injured and lost.
The next day (Thursday 21st November), Houle was spotted in the Newton Ground area and was first taken to the Pogson Medical Centre in Sandy Point by Police Officers and then transferred to the Joseph N. France General Hospital in Basseterre for further medical attention.
Earlier this year in July, newly-weds on the honeymoon (Clay and Acaimie Chastain of the US) experienced a hiking mishap after the husband got an injurious fall at Mount Liamuiga.
As gathered, the couple hiked two miles up to the dormant volcano and Clay fell some estimated 50 feet inside the volcano after wanting to get a better view of the lush greenery. It is suspected that a rope snapped.
He reportedly suffered a concussion and cracked vertebra, a fracture in his skull and loss of hearing in his right ear.
On the heels of that July 2019 incident, this media conducted an exclusive interview with tour guide professional who spoke under the condition of being nameless as he touched on the importance of being accompanied by a trained and qualified tour guide certified by the St.Kitts Tourism Authority.
Additionally, he warned against going about such outdoorsy adventures alone.
“For safety, protection of the environment and the whole enhancement of the experience, it’s better you go with a guide and never go by yourself,” he cautioned.
In further encouraging individuals to think about their safety, he expressed: “One of the things about these trained guides is that they have to keep themselves fit and healthy and they also take all of the different security precautions and they also have their first aid kit and everything to administer, and the protocols to administer these things. This is how deep it is so if you are thinking about going by yourself forget about doing so.”