by Linda Straker
- Passenger hiked in rainforest on Monday, 18 December, without a tour guide
- Passenger spent 2 nights in Grand Etang Forest
- Police drone located her on Wednesday morning in mountains of Birchgrove
A cruise ship passenger who got lost while hiking in Grenada’s rainforest on Monday, 18 December 2023, has been found alive, but with bruises caused by her ordeal of spending 2 nights in the Grand Etang Forest reserve area as she struggled to find her way out.
Mathias Dorel, the French Honourary Consul in Grenada, explained that Heyse Celine, a citizen of France, was a passenger on the Costa Fortuna cruise ship that berthed in Grenada on Monday. Celine ventured on the trek without a tour guide.
“She took a bus to Grand Etang and asked for directions to a waterfall. She was unable to find the waterfall and got lost on the return but was determined to find a way out. The next day, she called her daughter in France, who called the cruise line and then the police and me and the search began,” he said.
“She slept 2 nights in the mountains. The police found her on Wednesday morning and she was taken to the hospital. She has cuts and bruises and is exhausted, but we expect that she will be fine.” Dorel confirmed he would help her make arrangements to return to France by the weekend.
On 19 December, police published a missing person report without sharing details of Celine’s circumstances other than to say she entered the island the day prior, and last spoke with her friend on that day and had not been seen nor heard from since. Police also advised owners of hotels, Airbnb and apartments to be on the look for the 51-year-old female.
A second release was issued on 20 December saying Celine was found. It is understood that police used a drone as part of their search and it was the drone that located her on Wednesday morning in the mountains of Birchgrove — a community on the edge of the Grand Etang Forest Reserve.
Why did she did this on her own am a Grenadian I will not go by my self into the rain forest I will not go to a water fall what if she did rich to the lake area what would of happen and not knowing it’s their my God it pay to learn…she will learn from her mistake
Hats off to the Commissioner of police and members of the RGPF for their role in finding this missing tourist. I’m not sure when they began using drones but it’s my first time hearing of same – congratulations
Great job Rgpf. Proud of you guys.
Glad she was found alive!! Proves that Grenada is still a safe place.
She is an adult citizen visiting a foreign country knowing the visit duration was strictly controlled by the Cruise ships itinerary.
She should be held financially responsible for being so ignorant of her tourist responsibilities.
Sounds like a spoiled and inconsiderate adult.
Kudos to some the good Rgpf guys who is doing a grand job in even using Drones to find missing persons especially in such such dense areas,that being said it is right to question as to what really is the function of the GTA and The GTB including those authorities who it is said are the managers of these are sightseeing areas, take for example Grand Ateng on most days there is hardly any guard at the gate of entry also many of waterfalls attractions are without any guards or guides, and begs the question as to who is doing what within the GTA and the GTB..
Jus imagine the hit tourism would have taken if she had died? Our main hiking trails like Qua Qua, which are promoted by GTA, are not maintained by anyone. No signs, no maps, no facilities. Forestry is a joke.
She took a bus going up Greenville expecting to trek to a waterfall w/o a guide… She missed the boat… Dorel confirmed he would help her make arrangements to return to France by the weekend.
Some whyt expeditioners really brave!