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McKemie and Wilkinson located
Feb 28, 2005 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Dear students, parents, alumni and friends:
The following press release communicates the saddest possible news. We must turn to prayer and to each other to support these grieving families and ourselves. The Morris Chapel will be open from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. tonight, and Jill Pate, director of personal counseling, is helping us gather members of the counseling community to assist us, our students, parents, and friends, in coping with these devastating losses. As additional information becomes available, we will pass it along to you.
- Jim Hendrix, interim president
Darlington School has been informed by the Florida Coast Guard that Clay McKemie of Rome and Sean Wilkinson of Acworth were killed when a storm struck during a canoeing trip off the north Florida peninsula on Saturday.
Authorities said the boys, both 14, became separated from a group of 10. They were located by the Coast Guard eight miles offshore of the mouth of the Suwannee River. Their canoe was overturned nearby, according to a statement released by the Coast Guard today.
“This is an immensely sad time for the Darlington community,” said Jim Hendrix, interim president. “Our hearts and prayers go out to these families. We must find strength from each other as we grieve the loss of these two fine young men.”
Capt. John Burton of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the group had headed north in the Gulf of Mexico and intended to skirt the coastline for 4 ½ miles until arriving at Coon Island, where they planned to spend Saturday night. The group, which included three single kayaks and two canoes, was led by a motorized catamaran raft.
Burton said the choppiness of the water and the inexperience of the kayakers led some boats to get separated from the group, which was guided by English teacher Steve Hall, a 12-year veteran of Darlington and licensed outdoor tour guide with 25 years of experience in outdoor education.
“Steve has previously led this trip seven times, as well as innumerable other outings through his company, Orr-Treks. There has never been an incident involving safety on any of his trips,” said Hendrix.
A Coast Guard helicopter located six kayakers tied up to the raft at about 3 a.m. Sunday, and a rescue boat brought them to shore. By 5 a.m., the helicopter had located and brought Hall and another student aboard.
Darlington School representatives including Headmaster David Rhodes, Dean of Students Greg Griffeth and Head of House and College Adviser Tara Inman have been on-site in Florida following notification of the incident.
The following press release communicates the saddest possible news. We must turn to prayer and to each other to support these grieving families and ourselves. The Morris Chapel will be open from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. tonight, and Jill Pate, director of personal counseling, is helping us gather members of the counseling community to assist us, our students, parents, and friends, in coping with these devastating losses. As additional information becomes available, we will pass it along to you.
- Jim Hendrix, interim president
Darlington School has been informed by the Florida Coast Guard that Clay McKemie of Rome and Sean Wilkinson of Acworth were killed when a storm struck during a canoeing trip off the north Florida peninsula on Saturday.
Authorities said the boys, both 14, became separated from a group of 10. They were located by the Coast Guard eight miles offshore of the mouth of the Suwannee River. Their canoe was overturned nearby, according to a statement released by the Coast Guard today.
“This is an immensely sad time for the Darlington community,” said Jim Hendrix, interim president. “Our hearts and prayers go out to these families. We must find strength from each other as we grieve the loss of these two fine young men.”
Capt. John Burton of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the group had headed north in the Gulf of Mexico and intended to skirt the coastline for 4 ½ miles until arriving at Coon Island, where they planned to spend Saturday night. The group, which included three single kayaks and two canoes, was led by a motorized catamaran raft.
Burton said the choppiness of the water and the inexperience of the kayakers led some boats to get separated from the group, which was guided by English teacher Steve Hall, a 12-year veteran of Darlington and licensed outdoor tour guide with 25 years of experience in outdoor education.
“Steve has previously led this trip seven times, as well as innumerable other outings through his company, Orr-Treks. There has never been an incident involving safety on any of his trips,” said Hendrix.
A Coast Guard helicopter located six kayakers tied up to the raft at about 3 a.m. Sunday, and a rescue boat brought them to shore. By 5 a.m., the helicopter had located and brought Hall and another student aboard.
Darlington School representatives including Headmaster David Rhodes, Dean of Students Greg Griffeth and Head of House and College Adviser Tara Inman have been on-site in Florida following notification of the incident.
