Two Brazilians missing after boat capsizes in Mazaruni River

Two Brazilian nationals are reported missing and feared drowned following a boat mishap within the vicinity of Looking Glass Falls in the Mazaruni River on Sunday.

Police Headquarters in a statement said the foreign nationals were identified only as ‘Japow’ and ‘Bartolomeu’. The incident occurred at about 07:00hrs.

According to the police, the boat captain Assardo Adrian Savory of Bartica, Region Seven along with 52-year-old Brazilian businessman Juarez De Morais, Carlos Santos, 61, of Regent Street, Georgetown and Dillon Perreira, 21, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo and the two missing men, left Bartica for Poppy Show in the Mazaruni River on Sunday.

Savory told police that whilst navigating the river in the vicinity of the Looking Glass Falls, the boat came in contact with a strong wave which broke the bow of the boat and tossed everyone overboard.

The two Brazilians disappeared while the others swam to safety and were rescued two hours later by a passing boat.

“Efforts were made to locate the missing men but this has so far proven futile. The survivors received injuries to their bodies and were escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital where they were all seen, examined, and later sent away,” the police reported.

Meanwhile, the boat captain is presently in custody at the Bartica Police Station assisting with investigations.