The 2 men who went missing after jumping off a well known Martha’s Vineyard bridge featured within the horror classic “Jaws” have been identified as two brothers from Jamaica working seasonal jobs in the realm.
Certainly one of the siblings, 26-year-old Tavaris Bulgin, was found dead early Monday, the Cape and Islands district attorney said.
The seek for the victim’s 21-year-old brother, Tavaughn Bulgin, was suspended Tuesday afternoon due to dangerous weather conditions, officials said. He had not been positioned as of Wednesday.
The Bulgin siblings — the sons of a pastor from Jamaica — were amongst 4 individuals who leaped from the so-called Jaws Bridge into 15 feet of water on Sunday night, the prosecutor’s office said.
Two of the jumpers made it out of the water safely, however the Bulgins began to struggle within the strong current and were unable to achieve the shore.
The US Coast Guard, state and native police responded and commenced scouring the water for the missing duo.
Around 6:30 a.m. Monday, Tavaris’ body was recovered.
Authorities returned to the scene Tuesday armed with a side-scan sonar device to go looking for Tavaughn, who was missing and presumed dead.
After halting the search around 3 p.m., state police said they’d assess weather conditions day by day to find out when it’s protected enough for divers to get back within the water.
The Bulgins were seasonal employees at Nomans Restaurant in Martha’s Vineyard. Their father, the Rev. Keith Bulgin, is a pastor at a church within the family’s hometown of Clarendon, Jamaica, where a vigil was held of their honor on Monday, reported the Jamaica Gleaner.
A GoFundMe campaign that was launched to assist the Bulgin family transport the brothers’ bodies home for burial and canopy their funeral expenses described the pair in glowing terms.
“Tavaris and Tavaughn left an impression on everyone they met — at 26 and 21 years old, their shiny smiles, charismatic personalities, unshakeable faith and unrelenting positive attitude made them an absolute joy to be around,” organizer Doug Abdelnour wrote on the fundraiser’s page.
Tavaris had recently graduated from the University of Technology in Jamaica, and Tavaughn was studying business on the University of West Indies.
Each men played music and were energetic of their father’s ministry in Clarendon.
“Tavaris was well often called a beloved school teacher, and Tavaughn was known to be a musical prodigy and gifted soccer/football player,” Abdelnour stated. “Each boys were destined to make an impact in every community they served and each endeavor they pursued.”
George Omar, a family friend who was the perfect man at Rev. Bulgin’s wedding years earlier, wrote on Facebook that Tavaris and Tavaugh were like his “blood sons.”
“I loved them a lot,” he wrote. “I do know them from birth. They’re good, godly, smart, jovial, crazy, lively and talented individuals.”
Omar revealed that the siblings had visited him at his home in Connecticut just a number of weeks ago and cooked for him.
“I used to be the one which drove them to Martha’s Vineyard,” he stated. “They each called me for my birthday about 4 days ago… They promised to have a celebration for me once they come back in a number of weeks.”
The brothers are survived by their parents, Rev. Bulgin and his wife, Jackie, and their two sisters, Tavanny and Tavania.
The bridge that links the towns of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is officially the American Legion Memorial Bridge, nevertheless it’s commonly often called Jaws Bridge. In the summertime months, people line as much as jump from the span — though there are signs nearby warning the general public that such activity is prohibited.