Police Lance Corporal feared drowned in Puruni River

A police patrol along the Puruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) took a tragic turn on Tuesday, February 18, when Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) 23647 Batson went missing in the water. He is now feared drowned. Police have since commenced an extensive search for the body, and have launched an investigation into this incident.

L/Cpl Batson, Constable Quincy Marks, and boat captain Ransdale Melville, a 30-year-old resident of Third Avenue, Bartica, set out on a routine patrol from Puruni Landing at around 9:00h on Tuesday, February 18, in a 12-foot-long, 3-foot-wide wooden boat powered by a 40hp Yamaha engine.
According to preliminary reports, at approximately 11:45h, while navigating upstream through a ‘fall’, a section of the river with strong currents and rocky outcrops, the boat’s engine suddenly cut off. As a result, water began to enter the vessel, causing it to partially sink.
L/Cpl Batson, who was armed with a Taurus pistol containing 15 rounds, was seated in the middle of the boat, alongside Constable Marks, who was unarmed. As the boat took on water, Batson jumped into the river while Marks and Melville scrambled onto a nearby rock to prevent the vessel from being carried away by the current. The two managed to secure the boat by tying it to a branch.
After securing the vessel, Constable Marks spotted Batson holding onto a branch on the opposite side of the river. The two exchanged words, with Batson confirming that he was unharmed and asking about the status of Marks and Melville. Marks reassured him that they were both safe.
As Marks and Melville worked to bail water out of the boat and restart the engine, they suddenly realized that Batson had disappeared. Despite scanning the river, they could not locate him. With no sign of Batson, Marks and Melville immediately launched a search operation, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, they travelled to a nearby camp to access Wi-Fi and report the incident to authorities.
Upon receiving the distress report, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chaitram, Detective Sergeant (D/Sgt.) Jonas, and Constable Watts were dispatched to the scene to investigate and assist in the search.
Authorities have not yet recovered Batson’s body, and search efforts are ongoing.
Police officials have assured that every effort is being made to locate Batson and determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.