The tragic death of Paige Bell, the 20-year-old South African stewardess murdered on a superyacht in the Bahamas in early July, has raised questions about crew safety protocols.
Some commentators have urged superyacht stakeholders to effect reforms that might prevent a recurrence.
Paige had reportedly raised concerns about her own safety prior to being attacked – allegedly by a fellow crew member who has since been arrested.
“Prior to this tragedy, Paige had laid a formal sexual harassment complaint against him (the alleged attacker) and he had been issued with a warning – but that wasn’t enough to protect her!” commented Toni Baptista, a South African brand specialist who knew Bell and wrote a moving online tribute. “Paige was from Hillcrest, and I had the privilege of watching her grow up into a vibrant, kind, beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her,” Baptista wrote.
Other commentators said Bell’s death highlighted the need to improve crew safety in the yachting industry. “This was not a question of if, but when,” said Sandra Jordaan of the Yacht Purser, quoted by Independent Online.