A Moruca fisherman drowned in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday after he fell overboard following an apparent heart attack.
Dead is 33-year-old Jerry Gonsalves of Moruca, North West District, Region One.
Reports said that tragedy struck at around 19:30 hrs on Monday while Gonsalves was taking in his seine.
Speaking to Stabroek News via telephone earlier yesterday, his brother-in-law Murphy De Souza said that Gonsalves along with his nephew Aphan and his younger brother-in-law Michael left to go fishing in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday last and they were to return home yesterday.
They were preparing to do so when tragedy struck not far from the Moruca River mouth.
De Souza said at around 19:30 hrs Monday, Gonsalves was taking in his seine when he suffered an apparent heart attack which caused him to fall overboard. His nephew and brother-in-law immediately called relatives and informed them about the tragedy.
According to De Souza the family formed a search party and went to the location to look for him.
They found the body at around 12:30 hrs yesterday.
This was his first fishing trip as he only recently started the fishing business. Previously he was working with his parents who own the crab oil factory in Morabo, North West District.
According to De Souza, Gonsalves was a jovial person who always gave support to the community in any activity. He was also a good mechanic and guitarist.
“We will miss him dearly,” De Souza added.
Gonsalves has left to mourn his wife, 28-year-old Liza, five children, five siblings, his mother Marcia, father Terry, father-in-law Marco De Souza who is the Toshao of Moruca, other relatives and friends.
His body was taken to the Kumaka Mortuary.
