A Tobago father who has spent nearly a month waiting for news about his missing son is being praised after rescuing four people who were stranded at sea.
David McLean Snr knows what it feels like to have a loved one disappear on the water. His 27-year-old son, David McLean Jnr, went missing on October 9, 2026, after leaving Scarborough, Tobago, on a fishing trip.
His son was travelling with 52-year-old fisherman Kester Alexander aboard a 24-foot fishing boat named Predator. The two men never returned, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Now, nearly one month later, the father has helped prevent another group of families from experiencing the same uncertainty.
On Thursday, November 5, McLean Snr went to the assistance of four people whose boat had developed engine trouble while they were at sea off Tobago.
The group, reportedly three men and one woman, had been on a diving expedition when their pirogue experienced mechanical difficulties, leaving them stranded approximately 32 kilometres offshore.
According to a report by the Trinidad Guardian, McLean Snr received a request for assistance, reportedly from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
He obtained fuel and headed out to sea, using coordinates and telephone directions to locate the stranded boat.
After finding the four people, he successfully towed their vessel back to safety.
All four were reportedly shaken by the experience but were otherwise in good condition.
A Father's Pain, Another Family's Relief
What makes this rescue particularly emotional is that McLean Snr is still waiting for answers about his own son.
While he was able to bring four people safely back to shore, he has not yet been able to welcome his own son home.
Despite his family's painful experience, McLean Snr did not hesitate to assist others facing danger at sea.
Speaking to the Trinidad Guardian, he said:
"Yuh can't be selfish in a time like that. Yuh can't stick. I'm glad I was able to help."
His words reflect his belief that when someone is in trouble at sea, helping them must take priority.
He also explained the dangers of being stranded on the water, where currents can carry a disabled boat far away from its original location.
Search for Missing Fishermen Continues
Meanwhile, the disappearance of David McLean Jnr and Kester Alexander remains unresolved.
The two fishermen have been missing since October 9, and their families continue to await answers.
There have also been reports of unidentified bodies discovered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, with DNA identification being pursued. However, no confirmed connection to the missing fishermen has been established.
For McLean Snr, the uncertainty continues.
His actions have now drawn attention because of the painful contrast between the two situations.
He was able to rescue four people whose families might otherwise have been left wondering what happened to them, even as he continues to live with that same question about his own son.
The rescue is a reminder of the dangers fishermen and other boat users face at sea, as well as the importance of responding quickly when someone needs assistance.
For four people and their families, Thursday's ordeal ended with a safe return.
For David McLean Snr and his family, the wait for answers continues.