Fans turned out in force at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club to cheer for their team yesterday, undaunted by the surprise gun attack a few days earlier that left a 40-year-old patron fighting for his life.

“It’s a harsh thing for sure — at Bailey’s Bay we are family and those types of things don’t normally happen,” said one regular, “Punchy”, out in support of the team as they played against Somerset.

“Our spirits are dampened somewhat, especially with things not being sure with this man’s life. I hope and pray he survives.

“Maybe there will be more security, if that’s what it takes to keep peace. But we are family here.”

Added “Red”, his neighbour overlooking the match at Sea Breeze Oval: “The game must go on.

“This is my club; you can’t keep me away. People are still coming here just the same as ever.”

The consensus of many was that the invasion of the club by a gunman, just after midnight in the early hours of Thursday, had been a random incident and likely a case of mistaken identity.

“In my time, two guys would fight it out and end up drinking together, but today they take it more seriously,” Red said.

A nearby woman threw in: “This is my club. If there’s a game here, I’ll be here.”

Sitting on the veranda outside the bar, another woman regular affirmed that it was another typical weekend for “Bay Club”.

“Everybody’s spirits are up,” she said.

“Every weekend, I come here. Everybody’s here today as usual.”

Club stalwart Marvin Trott called the shooting “an unfortunate occurrence — I just hope he pulls through”.

“It hasn’t changed my feelings about the club in the slightest,” he said.

“Let’s hope the people that did it get brought to justice.”

A patron nearby who identified himself as Rawlins called the club “the best venue in the world”.

“It’s always a battle but at the end of the day we’ll all be here, and he is going to pull out and be here too,” he said.

“It’s not a Bailey’s Bay thing. Bermuda has its acts of random violence but you can’t associate that with the venue. It shows a mentality and where we’re at as a society. It’s nothing to do with any particular place.

“Bermuda is 22 square miles — there’s not a venue on this Island that can escape that.

“It’s happening in our back yards. But I’m Bailey’s Bay born and bred. I’ve lived 30 years here. I’m not going anywhere.”

At last check yesterday, the victim, a Hamilton Parish man, remained in critical condition at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The investigation continues. Anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity in the surrounding area of Bailey’s Bay and Duck’s Puddle Drive, between 11pm on Wednesday and just a few minutes after 12am on Thursday, is urged to call the Serious Crime Unit at 247-1739, or to use the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline, 800-8477.