Akeesa Tyrell of La Belle Alliance and Kawattie Lallbachan of Anna Regina who perished by drowning on Sunday at a lake near Feather Beach, Region 2 did not know how to swim, their families say.
Two others, Annessa and Meeksia Tyrell, are currently hospitalized after both narrowly escaped a watery grave.
Meanwhile, Joel Li, husband of Akeesa, in an interview with the Stabroek News says that he cannot come to grips with what transpired on that evening. Recalling the last words of his wife, Li said Akeesa, who could not swim, told him to keep an eye on the children and that she was going into the water with the girls. He said that he was in a nearby benab watching his wife in the water, and for a moment, thought to himself that he had never seen her so happy, but then everything happened so fast, he did not realize what was happening before his eyes.
“I jump into the water to save my wife… I was searching and searching that I almost drowned in the middle of the lake… there is a really deep hole,” Li related.
According to Li, it was Akeesa’s birthday that day and she was determined to spend it at the lake. At around 14:00 hours Sunday, in company with their three children, they headed for the beach. Forcing back tears, he said that he and his wife had been together for eight years and have three children, Janeese and Janeesa, age 6 and Jurmain Li aged 3. Li said he ventured into the interior six years ago after he found out that his wife was pregnant with twins. He said he is also a twin and became excited after learning that Akeesa was having twins. He said that three years after the twins were born they had another baby.
Li said that from then on he dedicated his life to making his family happy and his wife was very supportive of him.
“I purchased a new car for her birthday and it’s on its way and now look at what gone and happen… it’s like we bound we belly to get things and now she isn’t here to reap the benefit” Li said. Li reminisced that he and his wife were teenage lovers and described her as a very hardworking woman. Li is currently a vendor, selling beverages on the road to make ends meet. He is now figuring out how to support his children amidst financial difficulties.
Kawattie Lallbachan family’s also spoke to the Stabroek News, and amidst their grief and trauma, related that Kawattie separated from her husband and three children in Wales and migrated to Region Two. She began a common-in-law relationship, but following a misunderstanding, that relationship fell apart last November. Kawattie, who was living at Onderneeming at the time, then removed to the residence of a cousin while working at a bar with the Tyrell family. Kawattie’s relatives said that she had a difficult life and she was trying to make things work with her partner. The family’s last contact with Kawattie, who was also not a swimmer, was on Sunday afternoon before she left for the lake.
The autopsies for the two women are expected to be conducted on Thursday.
