AN AMERICAN family still does not know what will happen next concerning the investigation into the boating accident which left a teenager with a severed limb and her mother and cousin severely injured.

On Sunday, a pirogue operated by a Trinidad and Tobago regiment private collided with a kayak in Scotland Bay. The incident left American citizens Racquel Welch, 40; her daughter, Paige Welch, 13; and her nephew, Lance Aqui, 23, hospitalised up to yesterday afternoon.

Aqui’s father, Donald Aqui, who gave his son the kayak as a Christmas gift several years ago, yesterday expressed regret that he could not have been there to help them.

’I feel responsible because I should have been there,’ Aqui said outside Medical Associates in St Joseph yesterday where he was visiting his relatives.

The news about his relatives was not promising. The Express was told doctors were still attempting to reattach Paige Welch’s left arm while her mother, who is diabetic, was ailing with a serious back injury and shattered bones in the left arm.

Paige’s father, Clarke Welch, who flew in on Monday afternoon, initially agreed to give a statement to the media yesterday, but declined to speak to the media after some media houses reported that his daughter’s left hand could not be reattached. The Express understands he hopes to fly his family back to the US for further medical treatment.

Lance Aqui also remained under the watchful eyes of doctors as they monitored a deep slash he received near to his heel.

’Yesterday, he was complaining of fever, and when there is fever, there is the possibility that there may be an infection,’ said Donald Aqui, who lives on Monos Island.

Aqui told the Express he visited Scotland Bay, the scene of the accident yesterday. He was guided by the Coast Guard along the route the pirogue may have taken during the incident. Aqui, who also owns a pirogue, questioned the awareness and responsibility of the operator of the boat, particularly after his son stated there was a second man on the bow of the pirogue.

’There is no way he could not have seen the kayak due to the calmness of the water in that bay; a styrofoam cup would stand out from 200 feet away,’ said Aqui, who added that small boats like kayaks are generally given similar preferences on the sea that cyclists get on roadways.

’My son said he’s still having nightmares about the man on the bow of the boat,’ Aqui said.

He added that the family had been having difficulty getting feedback concerning the investigation and were considering approaching the United States Embassy for assistance in the matter.

Colin Mitchell, the commanding officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, yesterday described the incident as ’regrettable’ in a release. He added that the soldier piloted the boat ’in a private capacity’, and there was ’no military manoeuvre for training or operations in the general area of the incident’. The Regiment stated that the soldier was assisting police with investigations yesterday.

Carenage police are continuing enquiries into the incident.