Kyle Mayers, the West Indies middle-order batsman who recently became a sensation after scoring a match-winning 210 in the 2nd innings of the opening Test in Bangladesh narrated his scary story of being amidst one of the most ferocious hurricanes which struck Dominica back in 2017.
Narrating his story to BCC, Mayers said,
“It was scary as I said I plied my trade for Windward Island and we were at based at Dominica at that time. It was a very scary situation you know. Everything happened so fast. We were preparing for a normal storm and that it was okay, it will be a Category One. So then me and my roommate because I had a roommate at that time, we went to do a couple of bits of shopping to buy a couple of stuff just in case. And then just like that, it was Category 5.
Then everything happened so fast and it was a bit scary you know but we stayed calm. I always remember my granny telling me after that if anything ever happens like that you pack your passports and the things you really need and keep them close and we did that. We just stuck at it till the end and thankfully we got through.
When we went outside to see what the storm had done, it destroyed a lot of Dominica, a lot of people lost their lives. It was hurtful to see as a whole lot of Dominica being devastated. But as cool as we could. We tried to stay as cool as we could be and tried to stay calm in that situation and everything just worked out.
The coastguard from Barbados contacted me as soon as the communications came back up and then I got out in the next boat so yes I had to be cool but still, it was scary. “
On the evening of September 18, 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Dominica at a whirlwind speed of 160 miles per hour which resulted in mass destruction. The effect of the cyclone was immense on the whole team as it damaged and destroyed roofs of an estimated 90 per cent of buildings which included the Prime Minister’s residence as well. Some of the thickest and strongest old trees were destroyed by the hurricane.