Tuesday, February 09, 2010Body recovered believed to be that of missing crew
Police Information OfficerBody recovered believed to be that of missing crew member
A body recovered off St. John Sunday afternoon is believed to be that of missing crew member Pawel Kwiatkowski.
DNA analysis, which is now being expedited, will be needed to make a positive identification. However, based on prevailing facts, it is probable that the body found is that of the missing crew member.
Following the discovery, officers of the Special Investigations Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police and Virgin Islands Police Department worked closely with a medical examiner in the USVI. An autopsy was performed and the determination of the cause of death is to be released shortly.
Pawel Kwiatkowski, a 32-year-old, of Poland and an engineer onboard the 154-foot mega yacht 'Charisma' which was anchored off Norman Island, was last seen leaving the Willy Ts Bar and Restaurant at around 11:30pm on Friday night, January 29 on a yacht tender. Kwiatkowski was discovered missing by his crew members the following morning.
At the request of BVI authorities, U.S. Coast Guard carried out aerial searches of the surrounding area while Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) and Police carried out extensive sea and shoreline searches. In addition, Police Marine Unit and a contracted dive company engaged in underwater searches.
Last Friday, Police called off search teams after a thorough six-day multi-agency land, air and sea search which started in the immediate area and extended to other islands as far as St. John.
The investigation by the RVIPF Special Investigations Unit is focused on the movements of Kwiatkowski and other crew members after they left the bar on that Friday evening. The accounts of the crew are now being analyzed to establish what happened but there is no evidence that indicate there was fighting between any members of the crew.
The captain and members of the crew of the Charisma as well as the parent company, YPI yachts, have been cooperating with Police investigators.
A file on the investigation has been provided to Her Majesty's Coroner and the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
The Polish Embassy in London is being updated on developments. On behalf of the RVIPF, the family of Kwiatkowski was informed of his disappearance as well as new developments in this matter through his employers.