The bodies of 44-year-old Jose Francisco Joaquin, a Brazilian, and 25-year-old Osafo Anthony Roberts, called “Joinwire”, an electrician of Lot 29 Devil Dam Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) were on Wednesday pulled from the Essequibo River.
One of the boats that were involved in the collision on the Essequibo River
Reports are the bodies were found about 13:15h on Wednesday, at the eastern side of Hogg Island, Essequibo River, a mile apart from each other.
This discovery comes one day after the boat in which the men were travelling in collided head-on with another vessel on the Essequibo River.
The men’s deaths bring a total of three lives lost so far as a result of the crash.
Surinamese businesswoman, 54-year-old Sherry Khan, was the first to succumb to injuries received while three others – Milton Duke, his wife, Yaluntie Hohamkirk, both 43, and Jaeva Veira Nunes – remain hospitalised.
Reports have since indicated that at approximately 19:00h on Monday, the boat, which was transporting the now dead men and four other passengers, was heading in the direction of Buck Hall, Essequibo River, while the other vessel was travelling in the opposite direction at that time when the collision occurred.
This newspaper was told that impact of the collision resulted in the passengers and their luggage being tossed overboard. It was at this time that another vessel, which was passing, stopped to render assistance.
Those injured were taken to the Parika foreshore and transported to the Leonora Cottage Hospital.
Upon arrival at the medical facility, Khan and Nunes were both transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where the businesswoman was pronounced dead. Nunes was admitted.
Meanwhile, Duke and Hohamkirk were transferred to a private city hospital to receive medical care.
The bodies of the men remain at the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) mortuary to await Post-Mortem Examinations (PME), as investigations into the collision continue.
