Another Fallen Comrade…..
The news is not good, but we are hoping for the best. Our friend, one of the best sailors on St. Croix, a gentleman, storyteller, and first class entertainer, Llewellyn Westerman collapsed on his boat today as he was bringing folks back to his mooring in front of the Yacht Club.
Michael and I witness him sailing in, as we massaged a couple on the deck of their rental villa. A heavy rain squall was coming in just as he was. He turned Charis into the wind to take the sails down. We could hear the sails flapping, but they didn’t come down very fast. It looked as though he had caught the mooring line, but the sails kept flapping. Our client asked what was going on and we told him that Llewellyn was coming back and the sails would be coming down soon. But they continued flapping. Then the boat went backwards. We thought that perhaps his mooring line had broken.
The yacht club dinghy came racing out to help stop Charis from hitting any other boats. They tied her to another mooring and carried Llewellyn to shore. A few minutes later, the ambulances arrived. We thought it might have been one of his guests. But we just received a call from the clients we were working on that it was indeed our friend.
We are hoping for the best…..
Tags: Charis+, Llew, Llewellyn, Llewellyn Westerman, sailor, St. Croix, storyteller, Westerman
March 1st, 2008 at 7:49 am
Sad news.
The only positive spin I can put on this is enjoy your life now. Enjoy your friends now. Tell people you love that you love them. Help someone or some creature today.
Smile at everyone you see today and mean it.
Life is short, and we do not know our own timetable.
I love you guys, take care of yourselves and your community.
Brighter days are coming.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Thanks Wreg. We love you too.
We were updated this morning before we went out on our swim. Llew had a heart attack. His heart had been stopped for a few minutes before someone in Cotton Valley was contacted who had a defibrillator and was actually home when the call came in. The defib unit brought Llew back. And the ambulance took him to the hospital where they did an EKG and other tests. He needed the heart specialist, but the heart guy was in F’sted testifying before the senate. Fortunately he was able to get to the hospital with his team and fix the damage to the heart.
We are still waiting to see if there was any brain damage caused by lack of oxygen for that time.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
it’s true that a defib was used. but the heroics of michael weber and stephanie ?? - is what kept lew alive. michael with stephanie’s assistance preformed cpr until he was breathing again. the defib reignited the heart beat but only after breathing was sustained. we are glad that michael and stephanie were there to help lew.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
On behalf of Llewellyn’s children and family, I thank everyone who was instrumental in keeping Daddy alive. To Mr. Webber, Ms. Stephanie, the individual with the defib, others at the Yacht Club, hospital personnel, everyone involved, well wishers, EVERYONE—THANK YOU!!! Daddy is still alive and kicking because of all of you. Again, we thank you for your prayers and support.
Karen, thank you so much for being there! Please be assured that you have friends and family who love and appreciate you and are here for you.
Daddy, we love you and wish you many more healthy years with us.
Yvonne “Patti”
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thanks for reading Patti! We are so incredibly relieved to hear that he’s doing well.
The compassion and caring of this island family is overwhelming and one of the main reasons that we love St. Croix so much.
Please give Llewellyn a HUGE hug for us.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Yes thank you to Michael and Stephanie for doing cpr, and everyone who was around who could help my dad when he needed it most. I am very grateful. More than I can say. Thank you bloggers Michael and Terry.
Alisha Westerman
http://www.myspace.com/llewellynwesterman
March 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Nice to hear from you, Alisha.
We are all so grateful that there were angels watching over and taking care of him…
March 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Thanks to all who hepled and to everyone who supported us Llew is doing ok and really anxious to get out and about
March 7th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Hey Karen, thanks for joining us.
Keep us posted on his progress if you would :).
We are look forward to seeing him performing on and off the water again!
March 8th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Great electronic coconut telegraph here Terry. It will take more than a heart attack to stop such a big heart from beating. Good to see some of Llew’s good karma coming back to him, and just when he needed it.
March 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Hank. I’m not sure if we’ve met in person, but I’ve heard of you through diving friends.
You’re right. The order of events was miraculous to say the least. I want to hear him tell the tale from his angle, especially if he can put it into verse.
And we’re thrilled to keep hearing from others in the island family.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
When we were looking for news about Llew here in California your blog was the only source. Great job…and its nice to read some old friend’s comments.
Old sailors never die, they just trim their sails.
Here’s to many more Buck Island adventures. Love Janet
(Alisha’s mom here in Cali)
March 9th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Great to hear from you, Janet!
We try to keep up to date on island happenings and will try harder now that we know our audience is growing.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Just spent the weekend with Karen and Llew in the Valley. He is fine/she is fine/Moose and I are fine.
Llew is one lucky man. As the other blog site says - he “ain’t dead yet.”
Let us keep him and Karen in our prayers.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Hi Raki!
Thanks for reading and thanks for the update!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Seems like the phrase ‘it wasn’t his time yet’ is the understatement of the century! What a wonderful support network Lew has. And thank (whomever/whatever) that Stephanie and Mike ever so luckily just happened to be on hand. Looking forward to seeing Charis sail by again-
March 10th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
It’s great to hear from all of you Your prayers were certainly heard. As Llew would say “What goes around comes around” It’s nice to see a man as good as Llew get a just reward!
March 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Ya Terry, Llew’s next song (Hard A Tack Comin’?) will no doubt be a Llew classic, I can’t wait to hear it.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Llew has another week of recovery and then back for a stress test on Friday. He is taking it easy and getting some paper work done. plus alot of ZZZZZ!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Hello friends and family of LLew. I am a student of the great sailor. While we have actually never sailed on the same boat at the same time… he has inspired my sailing career greatly. He mentored my mentor. I was going to Buck on the Milemark and wanted to sail so bad I could taste it. There was Llew, gliding in and out of the trail- day after day as I watched in awe. The more I learned, the more impressive he became. It isn’t like magic when he sails… it IS magic! I got my chance to run a competing six-pack charter and for several years I pushed myself to the limits of my abilities, sailing without an engine up to my mooring, anchor and slip. Because it was fun? Sure. Because I could? Sure. Becasuse I wanted the respect and attention of a living legend…MOST DEFINITELY! Not a day passes that I don’t realize how lucky i am to be one of a few that share an “office” with Llewellyn. I’d heard the stories of all the other greats and knew a few- Abu, Bomba, Teddy and many more… but I could see Llew. To me he is one of the very last of a brotherhood of local sailors; the likes of whom STX may never see again. True sailors! I owe a lot to the man for inspiring me beyond my reality. I am not alone… there are others that have had similar opportunities to “mind Llew’s business” as Alisha puts it on her blog. Nevertheless, when the oncomming squall chased me out of the boatyard and into the Yacht Club, I did what I do best, watch another sailor and hopefuly learn something. I knew they were in trouble when they let go the mooring… I just went out to lend a hand securing Charis+ … I did not expect what was to follow. I’m so glad I was watching and could help. Llew has expressed an idebtedness to me. I don’t see it that way. Without my passion for sailing and my years on the next mooring over, with out the magic whistle, my life would not be complete! To Llewellyn Westerman, I say: “Thank YOU-Let’s call it even, Cap! See you on the water!”
April 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Thanks to everyone for helping and supporting my dad. I wasn’t able to make it to St. Croix until two days after becasue all the flights were booked and I was a nervous wreck. In that time I decided to write my daddy a poem and I would like to share it with everyone.
My Daddy
One phone call changed it all
I couldn’t believe it, my daddy can’t fall.
His skin sun dried, his hair so white
But he won’t go down without a fight.
The seas made him tough, as they will after a while
Yet when you see him he’ll greet you with a smile.
He’s a singer, a hero, and my friend
He will surly sail until the end.
As I embrace him and take his hand in mine
I think God every night that its not yet his time.
Again, special thanks to everybody who visited and helped.
-Fara Westerman
April 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am
What a beautiful poem, Fara.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us