‘He was an awesome guy’: Friends mourn the loss of beloved curb and whelk supplier after tragic fishing trip

Friends are remembering a man who was found dead after he vanished while on a fishing expedition near Gold Rock Creek in Freeport on Tuesday.

Friends said Patrick Bevans was a curb and whelk supplier, known for gathering sea snails from the island’s shoreline.

“I will miss you,” Tracey Hield said.

Bevans, 65, was found in the Freetown area near the missile base.

He reportedly went on a fishing trip with a relative around 7 am when the pair separated and planned to meet back up at 9:30. Police said tide rose and weather conditions deteriorated perhaps hampering Bevans’ return to their meeting spot.

Brian Carey, familiar with the area said he thinks the fishing trip was a “bad decision” because the area is swampy land. “[With] deep mud and high tide, you [are] in trouble.”

After police announced his discovery, Ednol Mcphee expressed shock. “ [I] still can’t believe it.”

His nephew Dejuan Bevans took to social media to pay his respects, “Sleep in peace, Uncle Pat.”

Friends said he was good-natured with an infectious smile.

“He was an awesome guy. [He was] always smiling,” Shirley Fernander remembered.

Erma Smith said his memory lives on in the trees he often planted.

“You will be in our hearts every day. You were the best always putting a smile on our faces. When I look at coconut trees and desert roses you planted, I will see your beautiful smile you had on your face.

“Every time you came by, you always had a joke and put a smile on my face. I will never forget all your jokes and kindness,” she said.

Miriam Darville grieved, “We will miss him. He always called me Miriam Roker. No more jokes from him.”