An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the death of a boat captain whose body was found in a fuel tank at David Shurland’s Wharf located at Adventure, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Monday.
Dead: Sagon Hopkinson
The dead man has been identified as 28-year-old Sagon Hopkinson of East Pataro Road, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). At the time of his demise, he was employed to transport fuel to a popular gas station along the Essequibo Coast.
Police stated that just after midnight on Monday, Hopkinson along with two other sailors left Bartica in a 75-foot metal boat powered by three 60 HP engines to collect fuel for their employer at Adventure, Essequibo Coast.
According to the men, they arrived at Adventure at about 05:30h and claimed that they both went into the boat’s cabin to rest since they had to wait for the boat to be loaded, leaving the now dead man on the boat’s deck.
The fuel boat in which Hopkinson’s body was found
Further, they related that at about 08:00h they woke up and noticed that Saigon Hopkinson was missing, and as such, they made checks around the boat. It was while searching, Hopkinson’s body was found in a fuel tank on the boat.
David Shurland’s Wharf
The Police were alerted and subsequently retrieved the body. His body is presently at the Suddie Hospital’s Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. It is believed that the man might have suffocated from the vapour of the fuel tank. Police stated that no marks of violence were found on the body.
