18-Year-Old Boy Drowns At Clifton Hill Beach In Point Fortin
EDITOR’S NOTE: Initial reports stated this incident occurred on Saturday evening, but in fact took place on Friday. The body of this article has been updated with the corrected date and new details.
A teenager tragically drowned at Clifton Hill Beach in Point Fortin on Friday evening (2nd January, 2026). The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Emmanuel Williams of Gonzales Village, Guapo, a former student of Point Fortin East Secondary School.
According to reports, Williams went on a beach lime at the Clifton Hill Beach Facility with three (3) friends in the early afternoon. However, while diving off some rocks, one of his friends, a 17-year-old boy, got into difficulties in the water sometime after 3:00 PM.
Williams and other beachgoers immediately rendered assistance and managed to pull the 17-year-old out of the water — but then Williams did not resurface.
Randy Williams, the teenager’s uncle, said he tried to rescue his nephew but was himself overwhelmed in the water and narrowly survived. “I don’t know what bring me back, but I come back. I lucky to be here, trying to save life,” he said.
Speaking with the Trinidad Express at Williams’ home, Randy said he did not initially know it was his nephew and other friends who were in the water. “I tried to assist them; the water was strong pulling [in] all of us. At the time, it was difficult to bring them in together, but Emmanuel’s friends survived. I pulled out two (2) of them and when I turn back for the third one, it was too late. I also nearly did not make it because the jacket I had on was not appropriate to carry the weight.”
A freelance diver later retrieved Williams’ body, approximately twenty (20) feet (6m) into the sea, close to the rocks where they were diving.
He was taken to the Point Fortin Hospital by his father and other family members, but was pronounced dead at 6:45 PM.
Doctors later confirmed likely aspiration of saltwater as the cause of death.
His body was subsequently conveyed to the Point Fortin Mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination at the San Fernando Mortuary.
Point Fortin East Secondary School issued condolences to the family and friends of Williams, mourning the loss of their former student via a post on the school’s Facebook page.
Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, also issued condolences via her Facebook page tonight (Sunday 4th January, 2026). “My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of young Emmanuel Williams. This is a heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with all who are grieving. May he rest in eternal peace.”
Investigations are continuing.
More on this as it becomes available.
[Sources: Ian Alleyne | Trinidad Express]
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