The death of a boater last weekend highlights the need for a stronger Government role in water safety.

That's the view of Mr. Donald Knight of Devonshire, who helped to save one Sandys man and recovered the body of a second after their boat capsized off the west end on Sunday.

Marine and Ports should inspect boats annually for safety equipment such as life jackets, before issuing a registration certificate, Mr. Knight told The Royal Gazette .

The man who died, Mr. Maurice Bradshaw, 22, of Albert Row in Sandys, had been fishing in the 17-foot boat with three other Sandys men when the craft began to fill with water. His brother Mr. Sherdon Bradshaw, 20; cousin Mr. Devrai Bradshaw, 20; and friend Mr. Raje Bean, 19, all survived.

A relative claimed all the men wore life jackets, but Mr. Knight said the only life jacket he saw was on Mr. Maurice Bradshaw. "It was an inadequate life jacket,'' and the fact Mr. Bradshaw's head was below water also suggested it was put on hurriedly and improperly, he said.

Mr. Knight, 43, was aboard his 26-foot boat Fight Fear off Dockyard at about 1 p.m. on Sunday when Mr. Sherdon Bradshaw and Mr. Bean hailed him for help after swimming for more than 90 minutes to reach shore.

They set out in Fight Fear and within about two minutes reached the spot where the Cuddy Cabin Boston Whaler had been anchored off the reef, Mr. Knight said.

By this time the boat had capsized, and Mr. Devrai Bradshaw was lying on it, semi-conscious, he said. He was not wearing a life jacket, he added.

He was pulled aboard the boat and soon revived. Mr. Knight followed the tide for the next five minutes before he was able to locate Mr. Maurice Bradshaw about a quarter of a mile away.

Attempts failed to resuscitate the Whitney Institute graduate, who worked at Riddell's Bay Esso station, and had gone fishing with the others at about 9.30 a.m.

Mr. Knight said he had been on the water for 34 years and fatal boating accidents he was aware of, were all due to "pure negligence''.

"People get on these boats and they're not getting the proper safety equipment,'' said Mr. Knight, who paid about $135 to register his boat this year. "I feel that for the amount of money that we're paying to have these boats registered, a boat should be inspected before a new registration certificate is issued.'' Marine and Ports should check for safety equipment like proper life jackets and flares, he said. Mr. Knight believes only one more employee to do the inspections would be required.

MR. DONALD KNIGHT says Marine and Ports should inspect boats annually for life jackets and other safety features.