A 39-year-old miner was discovered dead just after midday yesterday after the pit he was working in at Jumbie Creek, Potaro, Region 8, collapsed and buried him.
Dead is Sherwyn Henry, who hails from New Amsterdam but resided at Sophia and on Robb Street, Georgetown. He had been working in the interior for the past six years after returning from Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking to Stabroek News, Laurine McDonald, aunt of the dead man said she received a call around 6:30 am Tuesday from her sister informing her that the mining pit Henry was working in had collapsed and he was missing.
McDonald said that upon receiving the news she tried to contact Henry via his cellphone but calls to him went unanswered. However, she got a call sometime later from a friend who worked with Henry. “The guy told me that six of them was working when they heard a loud sound and they all hurry and rushed out of the pit but they later found out Henry was left in it after they reach the mining camp and heard him screaming loudly”, said McDonald.
She said she was furthered informed that after Henry was heard screaming his fellow workmates rushed to render assistance but it was too late as the entire area was covered with dirt. His body was finally found yesterday.
Arrangements are being made to transport the body to Georgetown.
Meanwhile, the police along with the relevant authorities are also investigating a separate incident which occurred yesterday in the Takutu after another mining pit caved in leaving one dead. The man has been identified as Nigel Edwards.
The deaths come in the wake of a commission of inquiry by the David Granger administration into a spate of mining deaths this year and last year. In one incident 10 miners succumbed.
