Gold miner, 31, dies in Middle Mazaruni after pit collapse

Authorities are investigating the death of 31-year-old Owen Smith, a Gold Miner from Kaburi Village, following a tragic incident at a mining operation in the Middle Mazaruni River area on Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 14:30 hrs at the 10 Miles Backdam, Issano, in the Middle Mazaruni River region.

Owen Smith, employed by his younger brother Dorwin Smith, 30, was working as a ‘jet man’ on a four-inch land dredging operation at the site.

According to police reports, Dorwin Smith, along with their father Oliver Smith and younger brother Jason Smith, were working in a large mining pit measuring approximately 40 feet in length, 50 feet in width, and 30 feet in depth when the tragedy struck.

While Owen Smith was operating the jet, a sudden landslide occurred, causing a large section of land to collapse into the pit and burying him beneath the debris. His family members immediately sought safety and escaped unharmed.

After the collapse, they returned to the site to rescue Owen but faced difficulty extracting him from the rubble. It took approximately 15 minutes to free him from the debris, but by the time they reached him, Owen was unresponsive.

The family rushed Owen Smith to the 72 Miles Health Center, where health worker Audrey Welcome examined him and pronounced him dead.

The Guyana Police Force has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, as authorities seek to determine the cause of the landslide and the circumstances surrounding Owen Smith’s tragic death.

Owen Smith was a well-known figure in the local mining community, and his passing has left his family and colleagues devastated. Investigations are expected to continue as police work to gather more information.