Businesswoman killed in boat accident in Essequibo River

A 54-year-old businesswoman of Suriname was on Monday evening killed in a boat accident in the Essequibo River and a search is on for more than five persons.

The incident occurred at about 19:00hrs.

Police said Sherry Khan along with eight other passengers left Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) travelling to Buckhall, further up the Essequibo River on Monday in a speedboat captained by 45-year-old Devendra Singh of Greenwich Park, EBE.

The Captain told Police that while in the vicinity of Hogg Island, he felt an impact on the left side of the boat which subsequently collapsed.

Due to the darkness at the time, he reported that he was unable to say what caused the impact but said it could have been a fibreglass boat.

A nearby boat subsequently rescued Singh, Khan and other passengers identified as 43-year old Yaluntie Hohamkirk, her husband Milton Duke, Jaeva Veira Nun, a 46-year-old Brazillian national and another man from the water.

Police believe there may have been passengers on the second boat which was involved in the collision.

The injured were transported to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where the unidentified male and Khan were transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). Police said Khan was pronounced dead on arrival at the WDRH while the male patient was admitted in a serious condition.

Duke and Hohamkirk were rushed to a private city hospital where they were also admitted in a serious condition.

Police said the search party is currently in the area trying to locate the five remaining passengers and any other persons.