While there was panic on the boat which began sinking in the Essequibo River on Saturday with mothers screaming for their children to be saved, the passengers acted responsibly in the hurried evacuation and a collision with Courida bush helped to anchor the craft, according to one of the travellers, Chris Gopaul.
The authorities are expected to launch a probe of this incident which could have resulted in a major tragedy. Two boats encountered problems on the Essequibo River before the passengers made it onto a third vessel which transported them to safety.