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A 33 year old Ancaster man charged in the drowning death of a 4 year old boy in St. Lucia was released on a $10 000 bail today. Sahab Jamshidi is not allowed to leave St. Lucia without the court’s permission but his family wants the Canadian government to help bring him home. His family and many observers say the charges are ridiculous, and that Jamshidi was trying to save the child, as he has saved people in distress before.

Jamshidi has lots of friends in the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia. He completed his medical degree there, and belongs to a local kitesurfing club. He was taking a vacation before starting his residency. In emails to his family, Jamshidi says he saw the 4 year-old floundering in the rough waters and he tried to help, but almost lost his own life in the effort. His mother says Jamshidi rushed to shore and screamed for help, the little boy’s grandmother, who was apparently supposed to be watching over him, came out of a tent and realized he was missing. His parents were not around.

Jamshidi could have come back to Canada, but his mother says he felt he could help, and he stayed and helped look for the boy until his body was found 2 days later. Then came the story that Jamshidi took the boy for a ride without permisson. Jamshidi’s family says nonsense for one thing it would be impossible to bring a young passenger onto a kiteboard.

Jamshidi has been charged with recklessly endangering the life of 4 year old Terrel Elibos, similar to a Canadian manslaughter charge that carries a maximum life in prison sentence.