A mother of four is now dead following an accident on the Essequibo River, where two boats collided causing passengers to “pitch out” of the speedboats involved.
Two other persons are missing and three remain hospitalised.
According to one of the passengers, who did not wish to be named, the accident happened on the Essequibo River, in the vicinity of Hog Island around 5:45 pm on Monday.
He said the speedboat, which was captained by Devindra Singh, was carrying eight passengers, including himself, and was heading to Buckhall when a white vessel unexpectedly crashed into the speedboat. “It caused everybody to pitch out of the boat,” he said. They were subsequently rescued by a nearby boat and taken to the Leonora Hospital.
Sherry Khan, a single mother of four who migrated to Suriname three decades ago, was conducting business in the country, when the two boats collided on the Essequibo River, resulting in her death. Khan and an unidentified male were rushed to the Leonora Hospital, which is located on the West Coast of Demerara, and then immediately transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where she was pronounced dead on arrival while the male remains hospitalised and is in a critical condition.
Khan was described as “a hardworking and friendly woman” by her “best friend” Monica Alvarez. Alvarez said that the woman travels regularly to conduct business in the country.
The owners of ‘Nursie Boat Service,’ located near the Parika stelling, and the speedboat that was involved in the accident, were among the passengers that were reportedly thrown out of the boat. The two were rushed to a private hospital where they have since been admitted. Another, Joel Thompson, 21, a miner who was heading into the interior to work in the gold mines, was also a passenger on the boat but did not sustain any injuries. Both captains are assisting police with investigations. A source revealed that the captain of the “white vessel”, is known as ‘Jack’ and is well-known around the area.
Police disclosed that they have since dispatched a search-and-rescue party to find the two men who are still missing but so far have been unable them. Further, they contacted the Bartica Police Station to inquire if the bodies have surfaced there but they were given a negative response. The men have been identified as Jaeva Veira Nun, a Brazilian businessman and Marlon called ‘Chappo’ (only name given) of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo.
Another search party is expected to be sent out today.
