A teenaged sailor who had been missing for over three days after a barge disaster on Wednesday night in the northwest was this morning found and taken to hospital.
The Government Information Agency statement today said that a search party comprising the Guyana Defence Force coast guard, Maritime Administration and the owner of the dredging equipment that was being transported to Region One when the disaster occurred, found 17 year-old Deochand Massidas known as Speedy. He is the seventh person to be rescued from the disaster. Two others are still missing. GINA said Massidas was immediately transported to the Charity Hospital.
Massidass’ mother Surani Singh who spoke to her son by telephone today has since travelled to Charity to check on her son and is expecting to take him home later today, GINA added.
Massidas was among four crewmen who went missing after the boat they were on, the MV Crisann-V, began leaking near the mouth of the Moruca River. The vessel was pulling a barge with equipment when the incident occurred. Massidas’s sister, Nairmala, told GINA that she answered the phone when her brother called this morning to inform them that he was found but did not recognize his voice because it sounded different. Nairmala said, “I’m very excited, happy and thankful that my brother is alive.”
Harbour Master Volton Skeete stated how important it is that vessels are equipped with proper safety equipment as it was a safety ring that enabled Massidas to remain afloat.
