Mother dies after rescuing 5-year-old son in Berbice River boat mishap

…“You can’t die with me!” – child recalls mother saying

One person is now dead after a boat capsized in the Berbice River early Friday morning. The mother of two reportedly pushed her 5-year-old son out of the boat, before being trapped inside the upturned vessel.
The incident occurred during the dark hours of Friday morning with two children – the 5-year-old and a 7-year-old – and five adults on board; all but one survived.
The dead person has been identified as 30-year-old Kayandra Lindie of Main Street, Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice.

Lindie, who was a cook at a New Amsterdam hotel, was travelling with her 5-year-old when the incident occurred in the vicinity of De Veldt Village, Berbice River.
The now dead woman’s brother, Kesseon Lindie, told this publication that it is still unknown what caused the boat to capsize.
“The boat hit something, but nobody is sure what it is because the place was dark. So nobody is sure if it is a log or a water animal, we are not certain,” he explained.
Lindie left home Thursday to visit Sand Hills – a village along the Berbice River – to return on Friday. It was on her way back that the tragedy occurred.
“Her son was in the boat and what he said was that his mother pushed him out of the boat and said, ‘You can’t die with me’ and when she go to come out she stifled and died in the boat,” the brother disclosed.
Boat captain, 34-year-old Aldwayn Den Harte, of Sand Hills Village; Michael Tappin, 27, of One Mile Extension, Linden, and Naomi Walcott 25, of South Sophia, Georgetown, who is a Human Resources Ministry employee, received injuries and were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Seven-year-old Harlington Bell, a student residing at Sand Hills Village, and “Maffie” (only name given), were the other passengers in the boat. They were also taken to the hospital, examined, and found not to be in need of medical attention and hence sent away.
Den Harte told investigators that while navigating near De Veldt Village, he felt an impact at the engine area, following which he lost control of the vessel, and it subsequently capsized.
Reports are that a passing passenger boat was able to rescue the four adults and two children who were in the water. None of them reportedly wore life jackets.
Police ranks from Central Police Station in New Amsterdam have since visited the scene and an investigation is currently in progress.