Decomposed body of miner discovered in Puruni backdam

The decomposed body of Marlon McCalmon, 33, was discovered on Monday last along the Puruni River at Suewanda Backdam.

Investigators suspect that McCalmon, a dredge operator, died sometime between February 18 and 21.

McCalmon of One Mile, Wismar, Linden operated a small dredge with two other miners, Police Headquarters reported.

The miners told police that on February 18, they left the mining camp to work on the dredge; McCalmon did not accompany them and reportedly told the two miners that he was too intoxicated to work.

“Upon their return to camp later that day, they did not see the deceased at camp but the clothes that he last wore were there along with freshly caught fish in a bucket,” the police reported.

Police said the two miners searched the area and the river for McCalmon but did not find him.

It wasn’t until February 21 that they discovered him in a decomposed state and bloated. Police said he was stuck between some branches and had what appeared to be fish bites about his body.

The body was expected to be transported to Bartica and then to Georgetown for an autopsy.