Soldiers rescue 5 from sinking boat; one GDF rank feared dead

Twenty-four-year-old Junior Kenroy Sooklall, a private soldier in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is feared dead after the boat he was travelling in was hit by a wave and capsized in the vicinity of St. Lawrence, Essequibo River on Friday.

Five others were rescued by eight GDF ranks who heard them shouting for help; they have been identified as 28-year Ramesh Beepat; 40-year-old Everette Tudor who is a GDF Staff Sergeant; 28-year-old Turendra Lochan; 14-year-old Eon John and 16-year-old Ryan Beepat.

The Guyana Police Force revealed on Saturday that sometime around 16:45 hrs, the GDF ranks heard people shouting and saw four persons in the river and two men inside the sinking boat.

The ranks managed to rescue three persons from the water; Sooklall reportedly went down.

The ranks then took the rescued men to Mangal’s Wharf. Police learnt that the group was traveling from Fort Island “when they hit a wave and capsized” in the 17 feet wooden boat with a 150 Hp Yamaha outboard engine.

They were taken to the Parika Police Station where breathalyzer tests were conducted and found:

– Everette Tudore showed .101 and .114 micrograms. BAC
– Turendra Lochan showed .108 and .119 micrograms BAC
– Captain Ramesh Beepat showed .132 and .118 micrograms BAC

A search and rescue team were dispatched into the area but Sooklall, who was stationed at Fort Island was not found. Investigations are ongoing.