Surinamese authorities rescue four Guyanese fishermen after ordeal at sea

The Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS) saved four Guyanese fishermen who had been adrift for more than 12 hours, after their vessel sank off the Surinamese coast.
The incident occurred earlier this week when the fishing boat encountered structural issues, leading to its submersion.
According to Surinamese officials, the fishermen’s ordeal began when a plank on their vessel gave way, causing water to flood in rapidly. The crew clung to an icebox throughout the night to stay afloat.
It wasn’t until 07:55h the following morning that MAS received an emergency call and promptly initiated a rescue operation, deploying the lead boat, Waraku, with the Coast Guard on standby.
The fishermen were found approximately one nautical mile from the coast, suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion, but were otherwise out of danger.
Upon arrival in Paramaribo, they received immediate medical attention, food, and drink to aid their recovery. The vessel’s owner has been summoned for further investigation, and authorities are assessing the feasibility of salvaging the sunken boat.

MAS and the Coast Guard have urged fishermen to conduct thorough inspections of their vessels before departure to prevent such incidents.
This recent event underscores the persistent dangers faced by Guyanese fishermen. In February of this year, 23-year-old Sanjay Khan from Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, went missing after reportedly falling overboard while hauling in fish. The seine hook allegedly caught his foot, pulling him into the water. Despite search efforts, Khan has not been found, leaving his family desperate for answers.
In November 2023, four fishermen, Hazrat Razack, Cicil Persaud, Vickram Singh, and Worrin Yip-sam, departed to assist a distressed vessel but never returned. Their boat was later found abandoned in shark-infested waters, intensifying concerns about their fate. Families continue to seek closure as search efforts have been unfruitful.
Similarly, in August 2023, fishermen Keston Fordyce and Lincoln Culley were lost at sea for four days after their boat encountered difficulties. They survived by clinging to debris and were eventually rescued, recounting harrowing experiences that have deterred them from returning to the sea, despite two decades of experience.