The body of a stevedore attached to the John Fernandes Limited, Water Street wharf was retrieved from the Demerara River on Thursday evening, more than a day after he was involved in a freak accident.
Dead is Orin Morris, 48, of Lot 961 ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. The father of seven was employed with the company for three years.
Stabroek News understands that the incident occurred around 2 am on Wednesday while Morris was performing his duties on a pontoon.
Reports revealed that he was hit by a log which was being moved by a crane.
As a result, he fell into the Demerara River; his body was retrieved around 10 pm on Thursday.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, the dead man’s sister Juney Morris said she learnt of the tragic incident on Wednesday morning after she received a call from one of Orin’s colleagues.
The woman said she and other relatives rushed to the scene. A search for Orin’s body ended on Thursday after it was found under the wharf.
She said her family was convinced that her brother’s death was as a result of an accident.
Juney explained that her family has since met with officials from the company who have offered to assist with the funeral expenses.
Morris’s body is currently at the Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination, which is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow.
The matter is being investigated by the police. Efforts to contact the company for a comment proved futile.
During December 2007, a similar incident occurred at the said wharf which resulted in the loss of the life of stevedore Andel Newyear of ‘B’ Field Sophia.
This newspaper had reported that Newyear was loading timber into a container when a wire rope used to bind the wood snapped and slashed his neck.
He died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital, days after the incident.
