Body of GDF rank recovered from Essequibo River

The body of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, Junior Kenroy Sooklall was on Sunday recovered in the Essequibo river after the boat he was travelling in was hit by a wave and capsized in the vicinity of St. Lawrence on Saturday.

According to a release from GDF, his body was spotted by fishermen at the mouth of the Essequibo River at around 07:00hrs.

Five others from the boat 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.

On Saturday at 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 of Bark Lane, Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice 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.

GDF said that an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident continues.