Two Women Killed in Tragic Boating Incident During Grenada’s Spicemas Celebrations
Two women have died following a serious boating incident off Grand Anse Beach in Grenada, casting a shadow over the island’s Spicemas Carnival celebrations.
The Royal Grenada Police Force confirmed that it is investigating the incident, which occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Police said the incident resulted in the deaths of two people and indicated that further information would be released as the investigation progresses.
Grenada Broadcasting Network, citing eyewitness accounts, initially reported that the women entered the water from a vessel and subsequently came into contact with its propeller. One woman reportedly died at the scene, while the second was taken to the General Hospital in St. George’s, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The vessel involved has been identified in reports as the Kayak Princess, a party boat operating from the Carenage in St. George’s. Reports also indicate that the vessel’s captain was detained as authorities continued their investigation. At the time of publication, there was no confirmation that the captain had been charged with any offence.
However, questions have since emerged about exactly how the tragedy unfolded.
In comments under GBN’s report, a woman identifying herself as an eyewitness strongly disputed the claim that the victims jumped from the vessel.
The woman said she was aboard the white boat with the two victims and claimed that, after the vessel docked, she saw the women swimming past her while holding onto each other, with one appearing to assist the other.
She further claimed that less than ten minutes later, one of the women was seen floating near the area of the vessel’s propellers and that she personally called for assistance. The woman said she subsequently provided information to police.
Another commenter claiming to have been aboard the vessel similarly disputed suggestions that the women jumped.
Those social-media accounts have not been independently verified, and police have not publicly confirmed the precise sequence of events. They nevertheless raise questions about the early version of events circulated following the tragedy.
The conflicting accounts make the ongoing police investigation particularly important.
Authorities will have to determine how the women entered the water, whether the vessel was moving or stationary at the relevant time, whether its propellers were operating and what safety procedures were in place.
Questions have also emerged online about whether passengers received safety instructions before the cruise and what level of supervision was provided while people were in the water. These remain questions rather than established failures by the vessel’s operators.
The tragedy occurred during one of Grenada’s busiest periods, with Spicemas festivities drawing thousands of residents and visitors to Carnival events, beaches and boat parties.
The identities of the two victims had not been officially released in the reports reviewed at the time of publication.
Investigations are continuing.
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