By LEDEDRA MARCHE
Senior FN Reporter
A family within a closely-knit community is grappling with the sudden loss of their loved one, Deno Higgs, the man who police identified on Tuesday as Monday's drowning victim off Silver Point.
The 33 year-old resident of Abaco Drive, Hawksbill, was out with his son and two other youngsters that day and was trying to save one of the boys from a strong current when the incident occurred.
His father, Hilleph Higgs, remembered receiving the call Monday afternoon and said his wife Irene, children and grandchildren are doing well despite the tragedy.
Higgs last spoke to Deno just after 4:00 that afternoon when Deno explained to him that he had needed money for gas earlier.
Higgs said Deno was off that day and had left shortly afterwards with his eight-year-old son and about an hour and a half later, he received a call from the mother of his grandson to say that Deno was floating on the water.
According to police, an unidentified female had telephoned the duty officer around 6:15 p.m. and reported that she saw the body of a black male floating in the canal at Silver Point, just east of the Island Seas Resort.
Police, along with EMS personnel, responded and confirmed that Deon had in fact drowned and soon learned that he was trying to assist a boy who was struggling to swim in the canal.
The boy was 10-year-old Joey Cenat, who had accompanied Deno to the canal. Deno reportedly jumped in to save him when he himself was swept away by the current and drowned, police say.
The grieving father remembered the phone call and being told that his grandson had called his mother to say that his daddy was on the water floating.
"He told his mommy to call somebody and to go get his daddy because his daddy is floating on the water and looks like he is dead. But before he could say more, the phone went dead," he said.
Higgs said his grandson was able to call 911.
It wasn't long before the news got to more family members who made their way down to the site where Deno was.
"My sons went out there and one of them told me Daddy Deno don't look good. They tried with him, but he don't look like he made it," Higgs said.
"Deno carried those boys out there and somewhere along the line this one boy had these goggles and it drop in the canal and he told the boy don't worry about it he will buy him another one, but before you know it the boy jump in the water behind the goggles."
Reports say Deno managed to bring the boy to safety before he drowned.
Police say there were no signs of violence or injuries found on his body.
Young Cenat complained of a headache and vomitting when he climbed out from the canal and was taken to the Rand Memorial Hosp-ital, where he is detained in stable condition.
Police do not suspect foul play in this matter.
"It is sad, but I am satisfied. Deno was very kind, a boy who you could have asked to do anything," his father added. "He even cut my toe nails and he is 33.
"So you know he is a favoured child of ours. We are in mourning now, but we are Christians and are getting good counselling. It is painful, but it will cease before long," said Higgs.
Deon was the sixth of seven children and leaves behind one son whom Higgs says he shared a deep affection with.
Higgs said he doesn't believe his grandson has grasped the fact that his father is gone.
