A post mortem examination has revealed that Hemchandra Debi, who disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean and later washed up on shore dead, died from brain haemorrhage and hypertension.
As a result, two seamen, who were aboard the vessel at the time of Debi’s disappearance, were released by police on station bail. A senior police officer told Stabroek News that there was nothing to suggest that foul play was involved in Debi’s death. However, the officer said investigations are continuing.
Meanwhile, Debi’s brother Mack told this newspaper yesterday that the family has been busy with funeral preparations and was been unable to keep in touch with the police. Debi, 42, of Unity, Mahaica will be cremated today.
Mack recounted that a brother of the owner of the boat informed his family that Debi was missing. “He seh that me brother missing and that they nah find he and that they will go back in de morning,” the man said.
He said that at daylight, he and other relatives went out to sea to search for Debi. It was during this time that they received a phone call informing that his body had washed up on the Lusignan foreshore, East Coast Demerara. Debi’s wife, Lalita later identified his remains.
According to Mack, Debi’s death came as a shock to the family, since he was a good swimmer and had some 25 years experience on the high seas. He added that during the years he worked on sea, Debi never expressed fears for his safety.
Debi was a father of two.
Last Saturday, police said they received a report that at about 2am on Friday, Debi was found missing from his boat by two other crew members while the vessel was in the Atlantic Ocean, in the vicinity of Unity, Mahaica foreshore.
Initial investigations revealed that Debi was operating the boat while the other two crew members were in the cabin. After they found that the boat was out of control in the water, they checked for Debi and could not locate him. The two crew members were detained by the police and a search was then launched for the missing man, whose body washed up several hours later.
