(AP) Friends of Recaldo Thomas gathered on Thursday at a bar in Antigua to pay tribute to him.
Thomas, affectionately known as ‘Rick,’ was a chef who tragically lost his life when the luxury yacht he worked on sank off the coast of Sicily.
Thomas’s body was recovered on Monday near the wreckage of the superyacht Bayesan, which belonged to British tech magnate Mike Lynch.
The vessel went down during a freak storm, and Thomas became the first confirmed fatality from the incident. His cousin, David Isaac, told The Associated Press that cooking for Lynch was meant to be one of Thomas’s final jobs before retirement.
Originally born in Canada, Thomas spent part of his childhood visiting Antigua, his parents’ homeland, before moving permanently to the small Caribbean island in his early 20s. Known to many as ‘Rick,’ he began his career as a bartender in Jolly Harbor, drawn to the sea, which was his second love after cooking.
Friends and patrons gathered at the Skullgerry bar to honor Thomas, a place where he often socialized with other harbor workers whenever he was on land. Clive Thomas, a boat varnisher who had known the chef for 30 years, remembered him fondly, saying, “He was my boy, my friend – respect.”
Global Affairs Canada issued a statement acknowledging the death of a Canadian citizen and confirming that they were in contact with their diplomatic office and local authorities. “We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this tragic event,” the statement read.
According to the Italian coast guard, the superyacht had 10 crew members and 12 passengers onboard. Civil protection officials believe the vessel was struck by a waterspout, a tornado over the water, causing it to sink rapidly.
Mike Lynch’s body was recovered on Thursday. He had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with his family and those who had defended him at trial in the United States.
AP video by Marlon Jeffers.
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DEEPEST HEARTFELT condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and colleagues. Such an untimely and unfortunate passing.
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