A Berbice pensioner was yesterday pronounced dead after he reportedly collapsed and fell into the drain he was cleaning which is located in front of his yard.
Dead is 79-year-old Leon Benjamin, called ‘Benjie’, of Lot 80 North Fyrish Road, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to police, Benjamin was pronounced dead after he collapsed and fell into the drain at about 11:10 am yesterday.
According to the man’s niece-in-law, Odetta Smith, the man was in front of his yard cleaning the drain with a hoe and a stick when he collapsed and fell into it. The drain is reported to be one foot deep and six feet wide.
After the man collapsed, his neighbour, Deonarine Somai, who witnessed the incident, rushed over and assisted the man by placing him on the parapet. He then summoned the police.
On arrival at the scene, the police say Benjamin was seen lying on the northern side of the parapet and was clad in a pair of multi-coloured trousers, a gray and brownish tee-shirt with a slogan on it and was barefoot. His body was examined for marks of violence and the area was also canvassed for security cameras for possible footage but none was observed.
The body was then escorted to Port Mourant Public Hospital and officially pronounced dead by Dr La Rose.
The body is currently at the hospital awaiting a post-mortem examination.
