Caribbean resort challenges quicksand reports

A Caribbean resort has questioned media reports that claimed quicksand caused the death of a British tourist.

An inquest said mother-of-two Nicola Raybone, 33, who was staying at the Jolly Beach Resort & Spa in Antigua, got into difficulties after becoming trapped "in very deep sand - quicksand" while watching the sunset, see previous story.

But staff and management at the five-star resort are upset saying no report of quicksand has ever been recorded and claim coroner Anne Hind's comments at the inquest were taken out of context.

The resort said: "The staff and management of Jolly Beach Resort & Spa are all still deeply saddened by the death of Nicola Raybone a few months ago.

"We are dismayed by the news headlines that have taken Blackpool UK's Coroner, Anne Hind's comments at the inquest earlier this week out of context.

"Ms. Hind stated that, "Ms. Raybone got into difficulties in this very deep sand, almost quicksand."

"Despite this tragic accident, the public beach our resort shares with other hotels is one of the safest in Antigua, and no report of quicksand has ever been recorded.

"Both the examination conducted by Antigua's government pathologist Dr. Lester Simon and the results of the private inquest conducted by Mrs. Hind concluded a verdict of accidental death due to drowning."

By Diane Evans