A 15-year-old boy who went missing on May 16, after he took the wrong trail in a forested area in the Pomeroon, managed to find his way back to civilisation on Wednesday and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was admitted in a weak, dehydrated state.
Ruel Fredericks of Siriki, Upper Pomeroon River is expected to make a full recovery, hospital sources say and his parents, relatives and friends are grateful for his safe return.
According to reports, Fredericks had left his home at Siriki on Friday last to collect a bicycle that was taken for repairs by a relative some distance away. After some time had elapsed and Fredericks did not return home, his parents became worried and a search was conducted. When there was no sign of Fredericks, a report was made to the police.
Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud and soldiers based on the Essequibo Coast also became involved in the search for the teen.
As the days passed, prayers were said for Fredericks’s safe return by several denominations.
This newspaper was told that Fredericks had taken a wrong trail and subsequently became lost.
According to a relative, who did not want to be named, Fredericks recounted from his hospital bed, how he wandered through the densely forested area. He told relatives that he was forced to survive for five days on water and whatever else he found in the swampy area to eat. He said he kept searching for a trail that would lead him back to his home.
When he finally found a trail and followed it, it led him to Lima Sands. On Wednesday around 5 pm, a Lima Sands resident called ‘Aunty Shirley’ saw the weak, dehydrated teen and rescued him. His parents and the police were contacted and he was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital.
Stabroek News was told that Siriki and Lima Sands are connected by trails, but these are scarcely used.
