Visiting US student dies in boating accident in Dominica

Casey Schulman, a 22 year old fourth-year foreign affairs major from Falls Church, Virginia was killed Saturday afternoon in a boating accident in Dominica.

According to Police PRO Inspector Richmond Valentine, Schulman was part of a group of 54 students who arrived in Dominica by boat as part of a study at sea program of the university.

After arriving in Dominica most of the group hired a private boat to go snorkeling. The boat later moved to Mero about 5 miles from Roseau where some of the students stayed aboard and others went to swim.

At about 2:30 P.M as the boat slowly began to back up, its propeller came into contact with Schulman who was in the water. She was rushed to the Princess Margaret Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Grief counseling has been organized for members of the program, and a commemorative service was held on the visiting ship on Sunday evening.

The Semester at Sea ship left Dominica on Sunday evening and is expected back in Virginia on Friday, Dec. 7.

Following the accident, the university administration issued this statement:

To the University community:

I write today to inform you of the loss of one of our students. Casey Schulman, a fourth-year Foreign Affairs major from Falls Church, Va., was killed earlier today in a recreational boating incident in Roseau, Dominica.

I have been in touch with Casey's family and ask that you join us in keeping the family and its friends in our thoughts during this difficult time.

Casey was a participant in the Semester at Sea program. The trip during which the incident occurred was organized independently of the SAS activities. Leadership at the Institute for Shipboard Education and senior voyage administrators have also been in contact with Casey's family, the U.S. Embassy of the Eastern Caribbean and University leadership.

Grief counseling and support services have been made available to all members of the SAS community on a 24-hour basis. A commemorative service is planned aboard the ship tomorrow evening. The ship will depart Dominica tomorrow at 8 p.m. local time as planned and will return to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 7.