Jermaine ‘Kevin’ Anthony, 18, of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice is missing and feared drowned after he reportedly fell out of a fishing boat near the D’ Edward sluice on Sunday afternoon.
His mother, Meenakumarie, a Rural Constable, said she received a call around 5 pm and she was informed that “something serious” was wrong with her son.
At the time, Anthony was staying at the home of his girlfriend, Camille, 18.
When the mother got to the scene of the mishap, she learnt that her son, who was helping out on a fishing boat belonging to his father-in-law, fell overboard while pulling in seine. She said that she was receiving conflicting information about how the accident occurred. She learnt that his father-in-law had also fallen overboard and that her son had held onto to his shirt.
Reports are that the man “had to release his shirt…” and that his cousin, who was also in the boat, pulled him to safety.
The woman also learnt that the sluice door was reportedly opened and that the lad disappeared in the rough waters. She heard that persons started searching in vain for him.
She said that in an emergency situation, the door should have been closed immediately, to facilitate the search. It was not closed until 9 pm.
Her two older sons along with other relatives have continued the search for Anthony but up to last evening it was still unsuccessful.
She said her son, who was working at a store in the village, brought his girlfriend to live at her home about two months ago. Although she was not in favour of the teen living at home with her son at such a young age, she still accepted her.
For the past three weeks though, the two went to stay temporarily at Camille’s parents’ home. Meenakumarie said when she learnt that her son was involved in fishing she was not pleased. He visited her earlier on Sunday and took fish for her and she warned him about the risk of going out at sea. He promised her that he would quit and that he would return to his job at the store from yesterday.
