Marigot:--- Well known activist on St. Maarten Elridge van Putten passed away at his Rambaud home Friday morning after a brief illness. According to information provided by relatives of the late Elridge van Putten, the late van Putten underwent a major heart surgery in Martinique in the month of April and he returned to the island feeling well. One of van Putten's sisters said she was in Martinique when her brother underwent the major operation and everything went well, she said her brother came back to St. Maarten about a month ago but he stayed at home most of the time relaxing and recovering.The wife of the late Elridge van Putten told SMN News that her husband woke up early Friday morning and he went to relax, sometime during that time he died in his sleep. His distraught wife who was obviously shaken by the loss of her husband said she could not say exactly what time her husband passed away.
At the Rambaud home where the body of the late Elridge Van Putten laid were several neighbors and friends of the family who rushed to the home to console the family especially his wife and sisters. His only brother Samuel van Putten and Pastor Royston Philbert and his wife were also at the home of the van Puttens.
When SMN News arrived at the home two gendarmes were there waiting for the medical doctor to arrive on the scene to examine the body before he was pronounced dead.
Relatives of the late Eldridge van Putten are currently making arrangements for his burial.