Brothers die after vessel strikes reef
Two brothers died this morning after their boat crashed into reefs off the coast of St David's.Police have not yet publicly named the individuals, but family members have confirmed the men as Michael Williams and Clifton (Kiki) Williams.The brothers were described as experienced seamen who were on a fishing trip when the incident occurred.It is believed they were attempting to negotiate a narrow path in the reefs when they ran aground on the breakers near St David’s Battery.At midnight, the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a call from the 27ft wooden fishing boat Tern with two people on-board reporting that the vessel had struck a reef off St David's Head and was taking on water.Bermuda Radio instructed the crew to put on life jackets while tasking the pilot boat St David and Marine Police boat Heron II to go to the scene.Bermuda Radio commenced Mayday Relay broadcasts to vessels in the area with local fishing vessel 34 Fathoms and a local skiff from Smith's Island responding to the call for assistance.However when the pilot boat St Davids arrived on the scene of the accident, they found the brothers’ bodies floating in the water.A police boat was on the scene this morning as investigations continued, and a barge has been brought to the site in an attempt to recover the sunken vessel.