Speranza (73) was swept overboard by what Leonard described as a "rogue wave" that hit the 70-foot custom-built powerboat Stew's Special, smashing the windscreen and almost capsizing the vessel.
Leonard said Speranza must have been knocked unconscious prior to being swept out of the rear of the vessel, as a gash was found on his head.
The incident occurred Tuesday after the party of four left St. Martin at 6:00am bound for St. Thomas to deliver some propellers. On board were Speranza, the vessel's captain Martijn, and Leonard and his son Tom who also was injured in the accident.
"We were heading initially for Virgin Gorda and as we got further out the seas turned from two- to three-foot waves, to four feet, to five to six feet," related Leonard. "A trip that normally takes us 2� hours was taking 3� hours by the time we got sight of Virgin Gorda.
"As we approached the island a huge rogue wave came out of nowhere and hit the bow of the boat. It must have been 12 feet high. The wave came crashing through the boat and smashed the glass of the 10-foot-wide windshield, which is normally bulletproof. My son was also swept down to the back of the boat, but he was able to grab onto a railing.
"Immediately we turned the boat around to look for Bob where we saw white cushions floating in the water. We called in a 'mayday,' got him on board, and proceeded to do CPR on him for about 30 minutes, which was the time it took to get the boat to Tortola. We all worked on him, trying everything we could to resuscitate him, but to no avail."
As news of Bob's critical condition was relayed back to St. Maarten, Michael Ferrier flew Speranza's wife Barbara and Leonard's wife to Tortola, and brought them back to St. Maarten on Wednesday. Family members are due to fly in today to be with Barbara.
Leonard said the ambulance had taken Speranza to the local hospital in Tortola where doctors first indicated they had managed to get him breathing with pulse and blood pressure back, but not the heartbeat. Later doctors sadly admitted they had lost him.
"The hospital did everything they could. They were excellent," Leonard stressed.
He said he and Speranza had been friends for 40 years.
"It is just so sad and unexpected. Bob was a great asset to St. Maarten. He built the Ocean Club and has been a successful businessman for over 30 years. We lived next to each other in Morne Rouge. He and Barbara would go out in the boat with me frequently, to Anguilla or St. Barths, but never in seas we encountered on Tuesday."
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