Wharf tragedy: Workers died while trying to save each other

What began as a routine inspection aboard a docked cargo vessel at the Courtney Benn Wharf on Water Street, Georgetown turned deadly within minutes on Wednesday evening, as the four Guyana Port Inc employees collapsed one after the other inside the vessel’s engine room while attempting to save each other.

The incident occurred around 18:00 hrs.

The News Room understands that the captain, Nerwaine Persaud, 57, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara and 18-year-old Brandon Deonarine of Support, East Bank Demerara, were the first to enter the engine room at the bottom of the cargo barge to conduct a dry inspection.

Moments later, both men collapsed.

Upon seeing this, the News Room was told that Dominic Alexis, 33, of De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, rushed into the confined space in an attempt to rescue them. He too collapsed.

In a final effort to help, 25-year-old engineer Getindra Sanchara of Cummings Lodge ran down into the engine room, but he also lost consciousness.

A 66-year-old seaman reportedly told investigators that when he attempted to go down to assist, he suddenly felt stiffness in his chest and began experiencing difficulty breathing. Fearing for his life, he retreated to the deck and ran to the radio room, where he made an emergency call for help.

Emergency services were summoned and the four men were later transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were pronounced dead.

Information reaching the News Room revealed that the engine room could not be immediately processed as it was not declared a safe zone. As such, the scene was secured and will be revisited as investigations continue.

An examination of the bodies revealed no marks of violence.

Samples were taken from the bodies and submitted to the forensic laboratory for examination.

Investigations are ongoing.