Miner drowns while crossing water-filled mining pit in Reg. 8

Twenty-two-year-old Shamar Roberts, called ‘Ten Pound’, a miner of Melanie North, East Coast Demerara (ECD) reportedly drowned while crossing a mining pit at St. Elizabeth Backdam, Potaro, in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
According to reports received, Akeem Maddison, a co-worker, and Roberts reportedly rolled down a blue drum with fuel into an old mining pit filled with water with the intention of floating across to their mining operation.
However, in the middle of their journey, Maddison told detectives that he saw Roberts moving away from the drum and took a different direction while struggling to stay above water.
The co-worker added that he immediately attempted to reach Roberts but he went under the water. An alarm was raised, and a search team was established to look for Roberts.
Nevertheless, at about 14:20h, Roberts’ motionless body was found and pulled from the pit. The body was examined and no mark of violence was seen. Police have since ruled out foul play.
Roberts had been working as a pitman at the location for about one month. His body was taken to the Mahdia District Hospital awaiting a post-mortem.