The Ministry of Tourism and the Protected Areas Commission today reported that a female visitor to Kaieteur Falls jumped over the Falls this morning, in an apparent suicide.
A release from the Ministry of Tourism said that based on early reports, a tour group of nine and two guides (1 Kaieteur Ranger and a staff member of Roraima Airways) was about to be taken back to their aircraft, when a female passenger turned, ran towards the Falls, and jumped into the gorge. The tour guides on duty, the release said, were unsuccessful in intercepting her dash. Efforts are underway to locate the body, and gather statements from all witnesses.
The Ministry says that due to this incident, the Kaieteur National Park will be closed until further notice as investigations are conducted by the Guyana Police Force. Reports indicate, the ministry said, that revised tour protocols, including two guides per tour, regular head counts and the reporting of unusual behaviour, were in place and observed at the time of the incident. These protocols were put in place after a similar suicide in September.
Updates on the recovery efforts, investigations, and the operation of the Park will continue to be provided as they become available.
The Ministry expressed condolences to the family of the passenger.