A Bartica family is in shock over the sudden death of a twenty-year-old boat captain whose body was discovered motionless yesterday morning in a fuel tank at Adventure, Region Two.
He is believed to have been overcome by fumes in the tank.
Dead is Sagon Hopkinson of Bartica, Region Seven. He was working with David Wong on the “Olivia” to transport fuel from Bartica to Adventure, Region Two.
According to Wong, the workers moored at David Shurland’s Wharf at Adventure around 5 am and around 5:30 am his brother went to check on him. He said when his brother went to check he called out for the two sailors but was not hearing from the captain. It was then they checked inside the boat and discovered Hopkinson inside the fuel tank.
“We don’t know what went on, it appeared he suffocated, however, we are not sure if he went to do anything by himself and (got) trapped. It is a real tragedy, we are saddened over this”, Wong said.
The deceased’s mother, Sharmin De Freitas, immediately travelled from Bartica to the Suddie Public Hospital to identify her son. De Freitas is a physiotherapist attached to the Bartica Regional Hospital. She said she received a call around 6 am informing her about her son’s demise.
“I am still coming to grips with the entire situation, my son is a very hard-working individual, he is a hustler, I never have a problem with him,” De Freitas said.
He was the eldest of five. His father was also very shocked over his sudden death. The deceased’s body is currently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. Police are continuing their investigations.
