JEP Opinion: A positive message for Joy

Joy died after being swept out to sea at Green Island in August, the night before her 32nd birthday.

For her mother, Kim Noble, the rest of her family, friends and many others, it is going to be the most difficult and heart-breaking of days.

Mrs Noble is, however, determined that others will learn from Joy’s death and that people are aware of the dangers posed by the sea so that similar tragedies can be prevented.

She hopes that the report of tomorrow’s inquest will help raise awareness of these dangers.

With a resolve that is both humbling and inspirational, she wants the story to be told so that something positive can come from a moment of intense private grief and loss.

That she can speak so clearly, calmly and with such strength is all the more amazing given what happened in the days after Joy’s death. Following reports of the tragedy in local and national media, her family were left deeply upset by comments posted on Facebook.

Unpleasant, unnecessary and ill-informed, they made a terrible time much harder.

Today, the JEP is calling on readers to help send out a message that such behaviour is unacceptable.

Tomorrow’s inquest will help to find as much of the truth about what happened on 20 August as will ever be known.

It is an occasion for the community to come together to offer support to a close-knit family.

In a statement released to the JEP, Mrs Noble said: ‘We as a family want something positive to come from her death and if that is by learning to have more respect for the cruel sea, so be it.

‘My daughter was a strong swimmer, in fact she swam long before she could walk. Despite this she drowned in water she believed to be safe to paddle and splash around in.

‘Yes it could be said, and many have on Facebook, that it was a stupid thing to do.

‘Everyone has their own opinions and can make assumptions, but please remember that criticism of our daughter on Facebook is not helpful to family members who are still grieving.’

Tomorrow will be a day to show that social media can reflect the best of our Island.

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