As relatives continue to search for missing fishermen David McLean Jr. and Kester Alexander, the weight of not knowing what is happening with the two men is taking an emotional toll.
The routine fishing trip took a mysterious turn as families lost contact with the fishermen.
The family continues its frantic search, desperate for answers, and is pleading for anyone with information to bring their family members home.
David McLean’s father said his son David and his fishing partner, Kester, departed Scarborough on Friday aboard a 24ft pirogue called Predator, registration TFT 2093. They were supposed to return at 5 PM but did not.
“We trying to figure it out and we don’t understand what went on, so definitely something strange went on”
The last contact with the men was made around 12PM on Friday. Mr Alexander’s son said he was speaking with his father when the call abruptly ended. According to David’s sister Misty, follow-up attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.
“So we don’t know if something happen right at the time of the last conversation on the phone or anytime after that. We know 12 o’clock was the time when he tried to contact and it went dead.”
The community immediately sprang into action. Members of the fishing community and private individuals with small aircraft searched the area where the mobile phone was last detected, south-west of Tobago.
The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard has also joined the search. However, relatives said they are not pleased with the lack of communication.
“They could at least contact the family and say well we went so, we went so, they try this… I see they out something on facebook where they was searching but we don’t know that, right, they telling the public that.”
Mr McLean Sr., who is also a veteran fisherman, says it is possible that the men are adrift and have been caught in currents taking them to waters beyond Trinidad and Tobago.
“But the drift that they supposed to be on once they were in that area is going down towards Columbia, Margarita, maybe if the currents swing you back, all Mexico all them kinda places, is a far distance.”
Fishing communities in other territories were alerted and told to be on the lookout for the men. Meanwhile, the family remains desperate for any news.
“But is just the way they disappear like that, you concern, you don’t know what to do, we just reaching out for any kind of help help to locate them and whatever effort… is thankful.”
Anyone with news is asked to contact David at 331-0481, Natasha at 356-6038 or Misty at 316-4248.