Body of missing seaman found days after barge reportedly sank

The decomposed body of a 21-year-old seaman who was reported missing after a barge allegedly sank offshore has been recovered in waters near the mouth of the Demerara River.

Dead is Ravindra Bissoondyal, also known as “Videsh,” of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice.

The incident occurred between Sunday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 11, 2026, in the Atlantic Ocean, north of the coast off Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

The News Room understands that Bissoondyal’s mother, Mohini Persaud, told the Police that he was employed by a shipping company located at Wakenaam, Essequibo. Although designated as an engineer, he was at the time working as a barge attendant on the tug.

Persaud reportedly related that on Saturday, March 7, at about 12:00 hours, her son visited her home and collected his life jacket, which he had previously left there. He reportedly told her that he was required to board the vessel to escort a shipment of molasses to Wakenaam the following day.

After collecting the life jacket, he left the residence. That was the last time Bissoondyal’s mother saw him alive.

On Sunday morning, the News Room was told Bissoondyal contacted his mother by telephone and informed her that he was departing on the journey.

However, shortly after midnight on Monday, he reportedly called again and told her that the barge he was on was sinking. During the call, he instructed her to contact the Coast Guard and the Lighthouse authorities to report the emergency. The woman reportedly kept in contact with her son as she engaged several stakeholders but lost contact with her son at about 00:41 hours and never heard from him again.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Reliance Police Station and later to the Guyana Coast Guard in New Amsterdam.

The News Room was informed that at about 15:15hrs yesterday, the decomposed body of a man was discovered floating in waters approximately 10 nautical miles off the mouth of the Demerara River. The remains were subsequently escorted to the Ruimveldt Maritime Police Wharf, where it was examined.

During the examination, investigators observed one suspected wound on the lower aspect of the left side of the neck and a tattoo depicting a Shiva Lingam on the upper left shoulder. The body was later positively identified by Bissoondyal’s mother.

The body was later taken to a mortuary, where it remains awaiting a post-mortem examination. Investigations are ongoing.