The Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Police Corporal 16825 Belgrave Bartholomew, 39 years of Itaballi, Mazaruni and who was stationed at Ekereku Police Outpost. The incident occurred about 2045h. last evening in the Ekereku River, Mazaruni.
The investigation so far, has revealed that Corporal Bartholomew, his colleague Constable Travis Bess and miner Devon Williams, of Annandale, ECD, were returning from a river patrol duty in a wooden craft, captained by Devon Williams. As they were mid-way on the river, the craft began to take in water from the bow and quickly sank, a release from the police said. Bess and Williams managed to swim to shore but Cpl. Bartholomew was unsuccessful.
An alarm was raised and a search team comprising residents combed the area and his lifeless body was found about 1000h today, in the said river.
The body of Corporal Bartholomew has been transported to Bartica Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination tomorrow.
