Two teenage brothers drowned in the Takutu River on Sunday, not far from the neighbouring Brazilian municipality Bonfim, where they lived.
Dead are Jaswick Williams, 17, and Julius Williams, 14, both of Bonfim, Brazil.
The older boy died while trying in vain to rescue his brother.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, the boys’ grandmother Celia Williams, who resides in Lethem, explained that they would usually visit her on holidays and when school was out.
She said that around 1pm last Sunday, the boys and six other friends went for an afternoon swim in the border river.
While swimming, Julius apparently entered into a deep area of the river and started to go down.
“After he started to bubble down, he shout for help and Jaswick thought he was joking but when he see he go down and didn’t come up back, he jump in to save him and that is how both of them ended up drowning,” said the distraught grandmother.
After hearing a commotion, she instantly realised something was wrong and upon investigating she saw persons gathering by the river.
Upon realising what had happened, she quickly summoned persons to search for the boys.
A report was made to the Bonfim Police.
Celia recalled sitting for hours waiting for her grandsons to re-surface but it wasn’t until the next day around 8am when the body of Jaswick was first found. Julius’ body was found around 2pm the same day.
Celia described her grandsons as good, friendly boys, who were regular church goers.
She also said they were brilliant boys, who did well at school.
