Trinidadian captain dies after dramatic rescue at sea; five survivors receive care in SVG 

By Admin. Updated 3:50 p.m., Thursday, July 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

The Trinidad and Tobago Government has confirmed that the captain of the fishing vessel ST VINCENT VII died hours after being rescued at sea, bringing a tragic turn to an operation that saved the lives of the vessel’s remaining crew members.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Defence said 66-year-old Captain Anthony Murray began experiencing shallow breathing shortly after he and the other five crew members were rescued by the merchant vessel MV MARVEL KITE.

Although Captain Murray initially appeared stable and showed no signs of pain or discomfort, the ministry said the crew of the MV MARVEL KITE later reported that he had become unresponsive while the vessel was en route to St. Lucia to rendezvous with a Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard vessel.

Following his death, a decision was taken to divert the vessel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines so that Captain Murray’s body could be formally examined and the surviving fishermen could receive medical treatment.

According to Trinidadian media reports, the five surviving crew members were transferred from the MV MARVEL KITE to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard during a rendezvous operation at approximately 10:22 p.m. on Tuesday. They were subsequently taken to the Kingstown Cruise Ship Terminal before being transported by ambulance to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.

Captain Murray was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m. by a doctor after arriving in St. Vincent, and his body was taken to the hospital’s mortuary, the reports stated.

The Ministry of Defence said it delayed announcing Captain Murray’s death until his immediate family had been notified.

Earlier on Wednesday, the ministry had confirmed that all six crew members of the ST VINCENT VII had been rescued alive after the MV MARVEL KITE spotted the distressed fishing vessel about 349 nautical miles east of Galeota, Trinidad, on Tuesday night.

The merchant ship’s crew alerted Trinidad and Tobago’s Maritime Operations Command Centre after identifying the vessel and confirming that the six people aboard matched those previously reported missing.

The Trinidad and Tobago Government has thanked the crew of the MV MARVEL KITE for their role in the rescue and also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the assistance provided during the emergency response.

According to Trinidadian broadcaster CNC3, arrangements have been made by Trinidad and Tobago’s Fisheries Department to accommodate the surviving fishermen at a hotel in Kingstown once they are discharged from hospital. Officials are also coordinating plans for the return of the survivors and Captain Murray’s body to Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Defence extended its condolences to Captain Murray’s family and said further updates will be provided as arrangements continue.

END