Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer

Robert Hewitt Bailey swam miles to get help for his friends.

He always knew that the sea could be a dangerous place, but when the waters which had for years provided his livelihood became his enemy, Robert Hewitt Bailey, a Morant Bay fisherman, was far from prepared.

One year ago, on a sunny Tuesday in May, Bailey and three fishing partners set out to sea.

Bailey recalls, "I (had) just got a second-hand boat with a brand-new engine. We serviced it and she was ready for sea."

Hours later Bailey was swimming in the ocean, trying to save his life and those of his friends - Warrell Miller, called 'Marlon'; Sean Adrian Brown, called 'Pops' or 'Prento', and another they call 'Garlie'. Incidentally, Bailey's colleagues call him Hewitt.

He, today, discloses that he and his three partners had been concerned about the size of the engine, but had put aside their fears with the thought that the engine type had worked well on a similar boat.

The men prepared themselves for the fishing trip with ice, gas, and food, as they were planning to stay at sea for four days. They then set out the Tuesday morning, sailing later than planned - 10:30 a.m.

All were disappointed in the new boat. The engine was slow. But, because money was already spent they continued on their way.

small leak

After two hours of sailing the men observed that there was a small leak and began to bail out the water. Eventually, they reached Morant Cays, where the leak was mended.

But, on the third day, with a catch of 1,000 pounds of conk, an igloo of lobster tail, and 350 pounds of fish, they ran out of ice. The decision was taken to sail for home at 5 o'clock on Thursday.

On the way home, the fishermen discovered new leaks in the boat and, about 15 miles away from shore a loud sound with an echo like a gunshot was heard.

"You hear that Marlon?" Bailey asked.

The men continued scooping water from the boat, but Hewitt recalls, "As I bailed I saw excess water coming in with more force."

The men decided to use the power of the engine to get them nearer to land, although the boat was taking in water.

"Don't stop the engine until the boat is under," Bailey instructed Marlon.

Using a flashlight in the evening gloom, Bailey discovered that one side of the boat had split in half, from the stern upwards to the bow.

He said, "Captain, Marlon, this is serious. The water is at my knees." He then instructed another partner, Garlie, to remove his cellphone from a bucket and call land to state that they had sunk eight miles away from shore.

engine down

In minutes, the engine had shut down and water continued to pour in. Marlon restarted the engine but it only throttled for one minute before shutting off again.

"Gentlemen," Bailey said, "get your gears."

The boat sunk rapidly and the men were forced to start swimming. Hewitt urged Marlon, Prento and Garlie to stick together.

"Let's stay together. We do not have to worry, we have hope. A boat will see us."

Suddenly, Bailey reflects, he felt responsible for everyone.

"We started to talk, feeling cold but trying to feel happy."

Garlie swam with the aid of a floating bottle and Prento lay on an igloo cover. Both men decided that they were going to get help and swam away.

Later, a ship passed but did not notice the men. To Bailey's surprise, he and Marlon began to hear the voices of the men who had left one hour ago, calling for help.

"Help! Help!"

"Hewitt, hear them bwoy," said Marlon.

Bailey recalls, "The seriousness of everything came to me. I looked at Marlon, he seemed so frail. I said to myself, mi can't mek the man dem dead."

Bailey started to pray. "God you come and show up." At one point he decided to swim, moving away from his remaining partner because he did not want him to hold on to him.

But Marlon pleaded, "You can't go in Hewitt, it over eight miles."

"Just cool, you don't know anything about me," he assured Marlon.

Bailey states that it was a hard decision to leave, but it was necessary as Marlon's bottle was full and would eventually take him under.

Praying, "Father, God me a beg you to strengthen me, guard me and protect me," he started to swim.

While swimming, two ships passed but they did not see or hear him, even though he made signals.

The Jamaica Coast Guard boat also passed nearby, and still no one responded to his flashlight signal. By this time he had reached half mile from shore off Morant Bay.

Bailey noticed some fishermen were at sea and a couple of boats were around so he swam about a mile inland to reach them. As he got closer to the boat, he recognised familiar voices.

"A mi Hewitt," Bailey said to the men.

"Hewitt gone a Cay," one fisherman said.

"Boat swamp!" came the answer

By this time the men helped Bailey into the boat. They then took up their anchor and, receiving gas from another group of fishermen, they went looking for Marlon and other others.

On their return, the men left behind were still treading water. Marlon was looking white and waterlogged. By this time it was daybreak - 5:30 a.m.

"Thank you God, a land you reach if true," Marlon stated gratefully on Hewitt's return with the other fishermen.

mishap at sea

At home in Morant Bay, Bailey's wife, Grace, had received a call from her father-in-law stating that there had been mishap at sea. She was told to carry some clothes to the beach at Roselle.

Grace attempted to hide the news from their son, Sonjay, but he overheard and went into the bathroom. Hearing sounds coming from this room, she opened the door. To her amazement, Sonjay was kneeling, praying.

"O Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus, I ask you to give me strength. Please look about my daddy and you look about the other men because I don't have the strength to look about the other men."

"The fear left me, the anxiety left me, and I was able to to face the event," said Grace Bailey.

Marlon, Prento and Garlie were hospitalised but were later discharged.

Hewitt's recollection of the experience last week was interspersed with tears and prayers.

He states with a sense of humility, "A don't know how I did it."

Outlook went on the beach and met two of the other survivors. They were in a very happy mood.

"Mi de a fret. A drop a sleep and dream I was catching fish! From I see the boat I feel happy because my mother can see her son again," said Prento.

"Without Hewitt no one of us would be here," proclaimed Marlon.

Sean Adrian Brown, called 'Pops' or 'Prento', Warrell Miller, called 'Marlon', and the Morant Bay hero, Robert Hewitt Bailey. - photos by Marlene McPherson

Robert Hewitt Bailey with his wife Grace and son Sonjay, who prayed for his father's safe return.

These are the fishermen who answered Bailey's call for help and finally rescued the men. From left are Lorenzo Dunkley, Steve Chong, Howard Wright, and Hampton Henry.