What was her name?............

So..."Someone died? Maho Jet Blast" that post has grown to over 5000 views and almost 100 comments! Unfortunately some of those commenting forgot the first part of the subject line...."Someone died". Do you know her name? Do you know if she was a good mother? a great daughter? an awesome boss or employee, loved by her family? do you know anything about this person you call an" idiot" and "stupid"?

Are you really so damn squeaky clean in your "life choices" that you've never stretched the boundries?...jay walked? walked down a dark street alone? maybe one drink too many? ever walked a little too close to a ledge just to get that perfect photo? or god forbid....do you smoke, that can kill you, you know!!? really? if you have been so cautious during your entire life... please respond and tell me so and I'll tell you that you've lead an entirely safe yet boring existence! and I surmise you're lucky a transit bus hasn't found your [censored] in a cross walk! Yes, You are BORING as F and if calling you a name is offensive.....I may have proved a point!

As far as a reactive and productive response to the "accident", I recommend not keeping the current site design and adjust things to "accommodate" both thrill seeking tourists and the island government . Obviously many tourists want the thrill of not only watching these jets take off, but feeling the enormous jet wash throw them to the ground! and the government wants vehicle traffic flowing freely with minimal police enforcement and injuries.

So I would propose, place a new "Beach Walk" with a 2 foot knee wall on the edge of the road topped with 4 foot fence on the beach side of the road extending the whole width of the airport property. The entire fence should be re-enforced the entire length to limit any legal issues from the so called "Blast Zone'. Only vehicles should be on the road, at least the vast majority of pedestrians would stay on the "Beach Walk". I'll attach some photos from our only trip to SXM 2 years ago, they show that people obviously want to see the planes/jets, they respect the road when planes are landing, what makes a few folks run for the fence at the last minute to get "jet washed" ....it's convenient!

IF you made it this far...and before I post the photos... her name was Gayleen McEwan, thoughts and prayers to her family!

Well said.

Thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.

Very well said indeed!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends also!

You hit the nail on the head.

While you make very good and valid points, the initial post was made before a name was released. At least I believe that to be the case as I followed this closely and several different places.

I checked all links posted in the original post and the name was not included in any article until 3 days into the situation. Initially including a name in any death report/article is not standard practice. The same played out here.

While some are inclined to make a rash statement initially, I am pretty sure the vast majority felt sorrow for the family and friends involved.

I am pretty sure most of us (myself included) have made poor choices. Some have not been harmed by them and others have paid the ultimate price. There is only so much any government or entity can do to protect people from the elements and less they can do to protect people from themselves.

Look at the current heroin/opioid situation across this country. Record deaths, record use of NARCAN and it still continues to worsen. You can not legislate intelligence or common sense.

There is limited space with which to work with the runway,the road and the ever changing beach. Can the runway be extended? Perhaps but then the road at the other end comes into play. There is no easy fix for this and with the added publicity of this incident, I expect to hear about more injuries and possibly worse.

As it was suggested somewhere on the interweb, why not close off the road entirely and push the fence back to the seawall barrier, and then extend the road from Karakter Beach Bar to BSV to complete the road link for that part of the island....

I would think that locals who live in Beacon Hill would hate that suggestion. Plus I guess you would have to put the road on the beach, which would destroy a turtle nesting area.

Maybe a tunnel or bridge to go from beacon hill to karatker....jk...

Kidding, I hope?

Exactly <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't make drastic multimillion dollar projects out of this. I understand that the beach comes and goes with weather conditions, but the road remains intact. Constructing a narrow, maybe 10 foot wide safe walking path along the road on the beach side could also allow for vendor locations as well. I enjoyed seeing local artists display their items on the rocks, they could also benefit from additional safe space. They could keep the center wide open, yet posted with warnings allowing people easy access to the soft sandy beach. With a continuous fence along the road you would take away 99% of the urge to run from the beach to the inside fence, that apparently would be a good thing. RIP Gayleen McEwan.

Beerman,

You may or may not haxpve experienced it, but the 'beach' often is tossed up and over the concrete wall and into the road, often causing heavy machinery to be called in to put the sand back where it belongs.

What happened was a terrible tragedy but sadly, it was one which was just waiting to happen and the only surprise to many is that it took this long.

I strongly doubt there is a good and at the same time, a reasonably priced solution to this problem but it would be nice, for sure. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I haven't seen that, but good engineers/designers could come up with perhaps a tapered apron area with removable fence sections to run heavy equipment to relocate sand on those occasions? Let's face it, even with the design in my head...an individual could still fall and strike their head on the walkway with or without curbs. Signs stating "NO STANDING DURING TAKEOFFS $1 Million dollar fine!" Won't keep people away.

Obviously you do not frequent Mary's Boon. Put all that traffic on the road and Karacter can pick up their bus and go somewhere, but not if you stay at the resort.

A very thoughtful post.

Unless there would be some very deep and substantial pilings put in, a sidewalk would likely not last long. The coming and going of the sand/beach would likely damage it severely in short order. Under the current beach/sand is huge boulders to attempt to keep as much beach there as possible but it still comes and goes at the will of Mother Nature.

Exactly. At times there are only boulders and no sand.

A storm puts the sand in the road. Hurricanes have put sand on the runway.

It is personal responsibility IMO.

Let me remind everyone that this is the only fatality that has ever occurred. While one is too many, especially to those who loved and will miss her, it is impractical to expect a financially strapped Govt to make million dollar changes to roads and build tunnels to prevent something that has never occurred until this isolated (but tragic) incident.

And.... no matter what measures are taken, some will find ways to circumvent the safety measures to "get their picture on the net". Human nature (and alcohol) is a strong force that causes people to do things they regret, if they live to regret them.

Tragic event....... adults make their own choices in life. No need to reinvent the wheel here folks. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I certainly agree that people are responsible for their own actions, but I am curious as to how many injuries have occurred along this road? Yes, only one very unfortunate death has occurred. but many have stated it was only a matter of time, that tells me there's a problem. Imagine a dangerous intersection or school bus stop in your neighborhood, would you accept that hazard? People have stated locals walk that road on a daily basis, would you want to even without the jet wash? I'm actually pro personal responsibility and smaller gov't control, but really, what would be a negative about having a safer walkway and a buffer for those wanting to expose themselves to the jet wash?

The "problem" is adults that blatantly ignore the warnings and make a cognoscente choice to risk injury for a thirty second thrill. Their choice........not anyone elses problem.

The walkway is safe......as long as you don't stop to hang on a fence.Just walk on the beach.....it's not that difficult.

Apples to oranges comparison. Of course a school bus zone in a residential neighborhood and a airport approach can't be compared. If vehicles are speeding down your street, do you close the street and prevent cars from driving down it? Drunk driving is illegal but some choose to do it, and many more lives have been lost in auto fatalities in the last 100 years than all people who have ever been killed in all of the wars combined. So, make driving illegal? No, common sense traffic laws and posted speed limit signs are what is the norm. Signs posted already that state "DANGER" "Don't stand here" work for most, but not for all. Some will still stand there. I don't know what more to say, other than the Police have much more important things to do than post Officers there so someone doesn't hang on the fence.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Apples and oranges, perhaps a little, but in my neighborhood they have placed speed bumps before the bus stops, apparently the signs themselves aren't enough for some people. My sidewalk fence idea is perhaps knee jerk, but it would give some people a second to pause. I find things repeat themselves and I hope nobody, especially a young person has a life changing event. Hell, my daughter continues to push the limits as I did at her age and sometimes still do. Cheers!

All true !! Can't argue with that <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Please, Please, Please Kill this thread, it's making my head hurt.

Then stop reading it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

A loss of life...regardless of reason or circumstance is a tragedy. When it occurs because of recklessness or stupidity...even more so...especially when it could have been prevented.

I have worked for a funeral home for 33 years...and beleive me...i have seen it all...so many accidents...overdoses, suicides, drunk driving..each one so unnecessary...each one heartbreaking.

To hang on to a fence with warnings posted ....for a THRILL of saying you did it...

to take the chance...to leave a spouse and children and parents and siblings behind...seems so unbelievebly unreal...AND YET...IT IS REALITY

My heart breaks for this family....I cannot even imagine...that a wonderful vacation could go so badly

and all because of stupidity...reckless and unbelievable stupidity

and i see it every damn day

not me...it wont happen to me

yes it does...trust me...it does

Saw the Memorial the husband put on the wall. So incredibly sad. I cannot even imagine him traveling back home without her, makes me choke up. My husband stood on the beach and felt the jet blast. Not sure how she blew back like that if holding on to the fence.

The larger jets produce hurricane-force blasts.

When googling this incident I came across something pretty horrific.... someone thought it was a great idea to actually FILM this poor individual receiving CPR. I could understand if they wanted to show the result of a dangerous decision, as a warning to others, but at the very least, blur out the woman's face, for god's sake.

================
See It Here

Saw videos of jet blast rolling over school buses. I think it could blow a medium sized woman.

Wow, someone else caught a woman being hit by a car because she was in the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr98VZgBmVc

Such a sad situation and my heart does go out to her family. It is a shame that people choose to ignore the warning signs. However, to help remedy the situation and keep people off the fence....the idea of an electric fence or a barbed wire fence seems like a simple solution....

An electric fence???? Barbed wire, maybe. Electric? No..

I'm curious as to why you would be so opposed to an electric fence. It won't do any permanent damage. It would just be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to hold on to. I remember getting into electric fences when I was younger. I guarantee you will let loose of it quickly.

A barbed wire fence, on the other hand, can cause permanent damage. I had surgery on a finger to repair a cut ligament and part of that finger is still numb to this day.

Electric fences don't electrocute; they simply deliver a mild shock. Although I do agree that barbed wire would be a much simpler solution.

I don't know, I guess it would be set to deliver a mild shock, but then GEBE kicks in, with their power surges.. Now, wouldn't that be fun, 'tourist seriously injured in power surge from airport fence..' Or, even more likely, it's out half the time, when the electric is off.

With the unreliability of GEBE, I would think a back-up generator would be in order. I would also think an electric fence could easily be disabled and would be out of service many times. They (electric fences) work well for livestock but they (the livestock) are probably smarter than some of the humans this fence would be protecting.

Personally, I don't have a problem with electric, barbed wire or even razor wire but there is only so much than can be done to protect people from themselves and the chances they take.

I love the idea of an electric fence. The next day you would have multiple vendors selling rubber gloves.

I'm no "Rocket Scientist", it just seems SO much simpler than rerouting traffic, etc. And again, sadly, you can only protect people so much from themselves.

There are probably a hundred things that make more sense than closing that road altogether. Hopefully someone with some common sense will prevail in this situation.

I am not a "Rocket Scientist" by any means, but how about something as simple as Jet blast deflectors? Seems an easier solution than re routing the roads around the airport.

Not sure whether I have posted this here before, but if I have, forgive me. I talked to a pilot friend and he said that, as far as landing, per se, jet blast deflectors would not be a problem. However, he wasn't sure whether they would interfere with the instrument landing system.

If they are not in use it would have to be something like that. It just seems like a No Brainer Solution.

Oh dear! Funny, but not really! You bring up a very good point.....

Birds landing on the fence...zap zap zap <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

The electric fence idea would probably be pretty entertaining. Although it would probably cause some new problems.....

I remember growing up in the country and we could always talk one of our "City Folk" cousins into a bet of who could pee over the fence. Entertaining for us, not so much for them.......LOL

Bottom line for me is that none of us are perfect. I feel very bad for Gayleen McEwan and her family. We all do things we probably shouldn't for some type of enjoyment. Maybe it is driving too fast, eating that second piece of pie, having that extra drink, or holding on to the fence. My heart goes out to the family. I'm sure Mom, Wife, Sister, Grandma, Friend, etc. will be deeply missed!

It seems everyone can empathize with what this family has had to go through. Beyond imaginable. Just a nightmare

The setup at the Sunset is unique and makes SXM an attraction like no other place. The area is a bit landlocked making a change in the road a very challenging and expensive proposition. A risk is taken by the thrill seekers who grasp the fence and a tragedy is bound to occur as years pass. Thousands have enjoyed the SXM thrill be it holding the fence of standing in the blast and having their hat blown into the sea. Motorcycle riders take the risk every time they ride without a helmet and there are countless other examples. It is not the fault of St. Martin, it is the result of the poor decision by the individual. The area should be left alone and perhaps more graphic warnings put up in the area. Even a policeman forbidding the practice of holding the fence beats the huge cost of redirecting the traffic.