Fatal outing at Essequibo Coast Lake: Teen’s body recovered with broken foot, multiple injuries – sister

The body of 15-year-old Arif Azeez of Adventure Village, who went missing on Monday, while riding a jet ski at the Hot and Cold Lake, Onderneeming Sand Pit/Red Village, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was found on Tuesday morning. His relatives are now calling for answers and according to family members, Azeez left home on Easter Monday with a cousin and friends for a recreational trip and was expected back by mid-afternoon. When he did not return, his location was traced to Onderneeming. After his body was recovered, relatives said the injuries appeared unusual for a jet ski accident. Arif’s sister, Malika Azeez, claimed that the teen’s body had multiple injuries, including a broken foot and head trauma. Reports are the incident occurred at about 16:30h at Hot and Cold Lake in Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast. According to preliminary inquiries, Azeez had visited the lake around midday with four friends ages 23; 22; 30 and 35, for a recreational outing using two Jet Ski boats. Azeez was operating a red-and-white Jet Ski, while his 23-year-old friend was on a blue Jet Ski. One of the friends told police that while riding along the shoreline, Azeez’s Jet Ski began running low on fuel.

Azeez reportedly told his friend to continue while he attempted to manage the remaining fuel. At about 16:00h, the friend observed Azeez maneuvering in a zigzag pattern before falling headfirst into the water approximately 50 feet from the eastern shoreline. The friend, who was around 300 feet away, immediately went to assist, raising the alarm and entering the water, but was unable to locate Azeez.
A search was subsequently launched by Azeez’s father, Abzal Azeez, along with friends and family, using boats. Azeez’s body was recovered from the water sometime between 10:00h and 10:30h on Tuesday morning. His body was taken to Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It was later transferred to the Suddie Mortuary, awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination (PME). Police investigations ongoing.