French Quarter: --- A mother of six children is now mourning the lost of her third child, 18 year old Alex Stevens. Alex Stevens would have made his 19th birthday on February 23.Stevens was one of three boys who left their homes late Wednesday afternoon to go swimming. Cassandra Stevens told SMN News while on Orient Bay beach this morning (Thursday) during the search that her son wanted to go swimming with one of his brothers and the neighbors children she said she particularly instructed the boys not to go to the beach but Alex she said still went to Coco Beach where one of her daughters are working.
The distraught mother said about 4: 00 pm yesterday (Wednesday) she learnt her son went diving and he did not make it back up. Ever since then the gendarmes have been searching but they did not recover the body.The search she said resumed early Thursday morning with the brigade nautique and with the Dutch police helicopter. The body of Alex Stevens was recovered shortly before 10 am by the search team. His body was taken to the Cul de Sac Bay where several family members including his mother, father and grandmother gathered as the teen's body was removed.
Speaking to SMN News was the two brothers who were with Alex at the time of the incident. 13 year old Claudio said while sitting to the edge of the beach Alex jumped into the water and dived twice. The youth he said came up and began calling for help and he jumped in to assist but Alex he said was pulling him down since the water current was very strong. "I tried saving him but he was pulling me under too, I had him holding on to my back as I tried to swim ashore but he somehow lost grip of my shoulder. As he was loosing grip he scraped by back with his nails before going down." Alexis the other brother said he also went in the water to help and he told Alex to hold on to his shoulder as he swims ashore but Alex held on so strong that both of them began going down. "I began taking in water and at one point I thought that was it for me but a big wave came and wash me ashore. It was then I tried to breathe and recuperate, then I noticed my younger brother and someone else was assisting but somehow they too did not manage to save Alex. We did our best to save our friend." SMN News learnt another youngster by the name of Belto was with them during the ordeal.
Also on the beach when the body was recovered is Alex's Grandmother Nathalie Azile who is no stranger to sorrow. Mrs. Azile began whaling when she heard the news that her grandson's body was recovered and he was indeed dead. "This is the second blow for me. Someone killed my daughter Brenda Azile 11 years ago and dumped her body in bushes of Oyster Pond and now my grandson. The same God that gave me strength when I lost my daughter will give me and my only daughter Cassandra the strength to deal with this lost. I am in fear for my daughter because she had a breakdown when she lost her sister now she lost her son". Mrs. Azile said.
The gendarmes is expected to release information on the case later today said Commandant Stephanne Arrousseau who was on the scene when the body was found and taken away.
