A young man from Ontario was solemnly remembered Friday, on the one year anniversary of his tragic death at Peggys Cove.
Jamie Quattrochi and his girlfriend were hit by a rogue wave at Peggys Cove on April 22, 2015. His girlfriend escaped, but Jamie was swept away by the wave and drowned.
“Suddenly a rogue wave came and was over Jamie’s head, and took him out into the ocean where he drowned,” says Jamie’s mother Caroline Quattrochi.
On the anniversary of Quattrochi’s death, his mother and girlfriend travelled back to Peggys Cove to remember him.
“It’s hard…but I feel closer to him when I’m here,” says Jamie’s girlfriend Brittany Smith.
Since Quattrochi’s death, his family has consulted with Nova Scotia Tourism Minister Mark Furey about what can be done to make sure a death like Jamie’s never happens again.
“There will be a significant social media campaign to promote awareness and prevention, interpretive panels at the tourist bureau,” says Furey.
The province is also working with tourism operators, as cruise ships are expected to bring record numbers of passengers to Peggys Cove this year.
For the family of Jamie Quattrochi, there is an ongoing effort to find meaning in tragedy.
“It’s just the beginning and we just want people to be safe,” says Brittany Smith.
The family also brought a cheque with them from Ontario, where they raised $7500 for the Lifesaving Society of Nova Scotia.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw
