Latest news with #MontegoBay
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Tragedy as mum, 53, killed in horror motorbike crash on holiday
A British mum has died in a horror motorbike crash while on a couple's holiday in Jamaica. Lisa Ball, 53, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was on-board a rented scooter when a pick-up truck smashed into the bike and sent her flying over 18 metres across the road. Lisa was on a dream holiday to the Caribbean with her partner Anthony Hurt as the pair celebrated their anniversary. Anthony is thought to have been driving the scooter with Lisa sat as a passenger when the truck pulled out from a restaurant car park on the island's tourist trail near to Montego Bay. Both were dramatically thrown from the Honda scooter along the North Coast Highway, according to horrified witnesses. The tragic accident took place around 7.40pm on May 19. Lisa tragically suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to hospital. Anthony reportedly escaped with just minor injuries to his feet. A shocked eyewitness who stopped at the scene to help Lisa described the tragedy. 'I am still reeling from the shock of the incident, which made for a sleepless night,' Kacia Campbell-Jones said. She also revealed that the fatal crash took place as the couple were celebrating their anniversary as well as Lisa's birthday. Lisa, who was also known on social media as Jo-Ann Pickles, was reportedly staying at a resort near the coastal town of Lucea. Tributes have poured in for the beloved family woman since her death was confirmed by Jamaican police. Her heartbroken daughter Chloe Watson left a heart-aching message on social media saying: 'Love you mum.' She added: 'She was a much-loved mum and nana of Olivia, Daisy, Lyla, Lillie and Madelyn.' Close friend Fiona Ward said: 'This beautiful lady is one of my closest friends, she came to Jamaica for a holiday with her partner they were having the best time until this tragic accident.' 'This is such devastating news for her family and friends. Everyone who loved Jo is grieving.' Lisa was also labelled as a 'gentle soul, kind and caring' by Claire Ettenfield, a salon owner in her hometown of Keighley. The driver of the pick-up truck involved in the crash has been taken into custody by Jamaican police for questioning. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Sun: 'We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities.' Lisa's death is the latest fatal tourist road accident in Jamaica in recent months. In February, a Canadian holiday-maker lost her life on the same highway just hours after she arrived at the island's airport. The British Foreign Office has guidance online for tourists warning them to be aware of the dangers of road accidents in the Caribbean. It states: 'Many roads are badly maintained with poor signage. In some locations a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.' 'Road accidents and fatalities are common. Roads in rural areas are often narrow and winding and poorly lit at night. 'Weather conditions can exacerbate poor driving conditions. 'Driving standards vary. Lane discipline is poor. Speeding and drink-driving is common. Many drivers do not have car insurance.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Tragedy as Brit mum, 53, killed in horror motorbike crash on holiday in Jamaica as heartbroken daughter pays tribute
A BRIT mum has died in a horror motorbike crash while on holiday in Jamaica - just a night before her 54th birthday. Lisa Ball from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was on board a rented scooter when a pick-up truck smashed into the bike and sent her flying over 60ft across the road. 4 4 4 Lisa was on a dream holiday to the Caribbean with her partner Anthony Hurt as the pair celebrated their anniversary. Anthony is thought to have been driving the scooter with Lisa sat as a passenger when the truck pulled out from a restaurant car park on the island's tourist trail near to Montego Bay. Both were dramatically thrown from the Honda scooter along the North Coast Highway, according to horrified witnesses. The tragic accident took place around 7.40pm on May 19. Lisa tragically suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to hospital. Anthony reportedly escaped with just minor injuries to his feet. A shocked eyewitness who stopped at the scene to help Lisa described the tragedy. Kacia Campbell-Jones said: "I am still reeling from the shock of the incident, which made for a sleepless night." She also revealed that the fatal crash took place as the couple were celebrating their anniversary as well as Lisa's birthday. Lisa, who was also known on social media as Jo-Ann Pickles, was reportedly staying at a resort near the coastal town of Lucea. Brit shark attack Jamaica Tributes have poured in for the beloved family woman since her death was confirmed by Jamaican police. Her heartbroken daughter Chloe Watson left a heart-aching message on social media saying: "Love you mum." She added: "She was a much-loved mum and nana of Olivia, Daisy, Lyla, Lillie and Madelyn." As close friend Fiona Ward said: "This beautiful lady is one of my closest friends, she came to Jamaica for a holiday with her partner they were having the best time until this tragic accident. "This is such devastating news for her family and friends. Everyone who loved Jo is grieving." Lisa was also labelled as a "gentle soul, kind and caring" by Claire Ettenfield, a salon owner in her hometown of Keighley. The driver of the pick-up truck involved in the crash has been taken into custody by Jamaican police for questioning. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Sun: 'We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities.' Lisa's death is the latest fatal tourist road accident in Jamaica in recent months. In February, a Canadian holidaymaker lost her life on the same highway just hours after she arrived at the island's airport. The British Foreign Office has guidance online for tourists warning them to be aware of the dangers of road accidents in the Caribbean. It states: "Many roads are badly maintained with poor signage. In some locations a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. "Road accidents and fatalities are common. Roads in rural areas are often narrow and winding and poorly lit at night. "Weather conditions can exacerbate poor driving conditions. "Driving standards vary. Lane discipline is poor. Speeding and drink-driving is common. Many drivers do not have car insurance." 4
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tragedy as British holidaymaker is killed in a horror motorbike crash in Jamaica - on the night before her birthday
A British holidaymaker was killed in a horror motorbike crash in Jamaica while celebrating her anniversary - on the night before her birthday. Lisa Ball, 53, from Keighley, West Yorks, was riding as a passenger on a rented scooter when a pick-up truck pulled out from a restaurant car park on the island's tourist trail near Montego Bay. The mother and grandmother, who was on a dream holiday to the Caribbean island with her partner celebrating the anniversary of their relationship, was thrown more than 20 yards from the Honda bike and suffered fatal head injuries, witnesses said. She was taken to hospital but pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. Her partner, Anthony Hurt, who is thought to have been driving the scooter, reportedly escaped with just minor injuries to his feet. An eyewitness who stopped at the scene to tend to Ms Ball told how she had been left shaken by the tragedy. Posting online, Kacia Campbell-Jones wrote: 'I am still reeling from the shock of the incident, which made for a sleepless night, particularly since it fell on my birthday and your anniversary and birthday celebration. 'Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and I hope my assistance at the scene was in some way helpful, especially trying to get an ambulance and preparing the A&E staff before she got there.' Ms Ball, who was also known by the social media name Jo-Ann Pickles, had travelled to Jamaica with her partner for a holiday and was reportedly staying at a resort near the coastal town of Lucea. The accident happened around 7.40pm on May 19 along the North Coast Highway, a busy route popular with tourists travelling between Falmouth and St James. Tributes were paid on social media to Ms Ball, with her heartbroken daughter Chloe Watson simply posting: 'Love you mum.' She added: 'She was a much-loved mum and nana of Olivia, Daisy, Lyla, Lillie and Madelyn.' Close friend Fiona Ward said: 'This beautiful lady is one of my closest friends, she came to Jamaica for a holiday with her partner they were having the best time until this tragic accident. 'This is such devastating news for her family and friends. Everyone who loved Jo is grieving.' Claire Ettenfield, a salon owner in Keighley, added: 'Lisa was a client of mine. Such a gentle soul, kind and caring.' Just months ago, Mr Hurt had posted a heartfelt tribute to his partner on Facebook, calling her 'a keeper' and writing: 'I love her to bits.' The driver of the pick-up truck involved in the crash was taken into custody by Jamaican police for questioning. The Foreign Office confirmed it was offering consular support to Lisa's grieving family. Ms Ball's death is the latest fatal road accident involving tourists in Jamaica, raising renewed concerns about safety on the island's busy coastal highways. In February, a Canadian holidaymaker lost her life on the same stretch of road having just arrived at the island's airport. Foreign Office guidance states: 'Many roads are badly maintained with poor signage. In some locations a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. 'Road accidents and fatalities are common. Roads in rural areas are often narrow and winding and poorly lit at night. Weather conditions can exacerbate poor driving conditions. 'Driving standards vary. Lane discipline is poor. Speeding and drink-driving is common. Many drivers do not have car insurance.'
Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Times
I thought I was going to die, says British woman attacked by shark
A British woman has flown home for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark while on holiday in Jamaica. Rachel Smith, 26, was in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, when a shark bit her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off, with blood spurting from the wound. Her sister, Lisa, 28, saw a metre-long shark swimming away and managed to bring Smith to safety while warning others to keep away. Both sisters were knocked over by the impact of the animal, which was in an area that had been designated as safe to swim in. Doctors said the bite marks were likely those of a reef shark. Smith, a pharmacologist, was taken to hospital in an ambulance and doctors said she needed plastic surgery but with no surgeon available for two weeks, she and her sister flew back to their parents' home in Cork, Ireland, to seek treatment. Doctors said the tendons and nerves in Smith's ring and little fingers were damaged, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been separated. After emergency surgery, she hopes to regain full movement in 18 months. Smith and her sister, a procurement specialist, both from Newham, London, said they had suffered nightmares since the attack on May 8. Smith said: 'There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Her sister added: 'We were so terrified. I honestly thought her fingers were gone — there was blood everywhere. 'We were just crying and thinking she was going to die.' The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tourist's finger left hanging off after shark attack in Jamaica
A British tourist feared for her life after she was savagely attacked by a shark in Jamaica. Rachel Smith, 26, was on holiday with her sister when the fish bit through her left hand while swimming in Montego Bay. Her ring finger was left hanging off as she watched 'blood pour everywhere' before being rushed to the local hospital earlier this month. She was forced to fly to Ireland - where her parents live - for emergency treatment after doctors on the Caribbean island said the plastic surgeon was not available for two weeks. Rachel, a pharmacologist from London, admitted: 'There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off.' Doctors at Cork University Hospital in Ireland told Rachel that the tendons and nerves in her ring and little finger were ruptured as well as disconnected ligaments in the ring finger. Despite the ordeal, with what is believed to have been a reef shark, Rachel said: 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. 'I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' She is hoping to regain movement in the next 18 months but has since been suffering from nightmares. Her sister Lisa, who led Rachel out of the water and warned others to stay away, has also been 'terrified' ever since the attack on May 8. 'I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere,' the 28-year-old said. 'At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. We were just crying and thinking she was going to die.' She said the shark knocked both of them over with its body before taking a swipe at Lisa despite the flag on the beach indicating it was safe to swim. She said: 'There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them.' The sisters, who travel together every year, were planning to stay at the Hilton Rose hotel for two weeks. Lisa added: 'I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive.'
