Police have launched an investigation into a river collision involving a Guyana Defence Force craft and that of a Venezuelan national on Friday morning on the Cuyuni River in Region Seven.
The GDF craft collided with the boat that was at the time being captained by Vergil Brown, a miner of San Martin, Venezuela.
According to information provided by the police, the collision occurred at Eteringbang as the GDF ranks were returning to their base camp at about 9.30am.
Investigations revealed that the GDF ranks boarded their boat, which is powered by a 200 horsepower engine, from the Eteringbang landing after purchasing rations. While returning to the base camp, the 20-foot wooden GDF vessel collided with Brown’s boat, a 10-foot wooden boat powered by a 40 horsepower engine.
At the time of the collision, Brown’s boat had two passengers. As a result of the collision, Brown’s boat sustained extensive damage and sank.
Brown and his passengers were pulled out of the river and taken ashore. Brown sustained some injuries and was taken to the Eteringbang medical centre for emergency medical attention. He was later transferred to a medical facility in Venezuela.
