Parika teen dies in mining pit accident

Anthony Richard, a 17-year-old miner of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, died after a mining pit he was working in caved in on him on Tuesday.

Police Headquarters reported that the teen was working at a mining pit located at the Cowpen Backdam, Puruni River, in Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni).

Richard reportedly owns a four-inch land dredge that was being used at the Cowpen backdam operation. At around 15:30 hrs Tuesday, Richard and three workers were in the mining pit when the land above became loose and crumbled, covering the teenager.

The other workers reportedly raised an alarm and several persons came to rescue him. By the time they managed to dig away the soil though, his body appeared lifeless.

Richard’s body was taken to Puruni Health Post, where he was seen by a doctor on duty who pronounced him dead.

The body was later examined and several abrasions were observed on his left leg. The body is at the health post, waiting to be taken to Bartica and then to Georgetown for a post-mortem examination.