Six fishermen were on Monday rescued by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard with the assistance of a civilian vessel after their fishing vessel sank in the Pomeroon River last Thursday.
A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) release yesterday stated that a two-day search-and-rescue operation began on Saturday, following a distress report received that a fishing vessel had lost propulsion in the vicinity of Iron Punt, Pomeroon River.
Subsequently around midday that day, the Coast Guard deployed three boats to locate the vessel in distress.
During the search in the Pomeroon River for the fishermen, the ranks, found traces of debris, including an icebox from the vessel that was seen at the foreshore of Iron Punt which indicated to them the vessel had sunk.
On Sunday, the six fishermen were rescued by the Coast Guard ranks with the assistance of a civilian vessel, some 20 miles west of the wreckage site. They were transported to the Coast Guard headquarters and reunited with their families on Monday morning.
The fishermen explained that the vessel sank last Thursday and they supported each other while they swam ashore.
In light of this incident, the Coast Guard, is reminding mariners to make every effort to ensure that their vessels and engines are inspected and serviced before going out at sea and to be sure to render assistance to any vessel in distress, as mandated by law.
