The Guyana Police Force [GPF] is investigating an incident that has resulted in the death of a 28-year-old miner in the Cuyuni.
Oniel Richardson of Goshen Village, Essequibo River perished when a wall of an old mining pit collapsed and covered him. The GPF said that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 2 pm at Quartzstone Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region 7.
According to the GPF, investigations revealed that the victim who was self-employed, was operating his metal detector in search of gold. At about 1 pm, his cousin and an associate checked for him but only found Richardson’s detector partially visible.
Suspecting the worst, they began digging and later found the motionless body of Richardson beneath a heap of loam. Richardson’s body was removed and the police were notified.
The deceased’s uncle, Rocky Roberts, told Stabroek News that the information he received on Sunday is that Richardson awoke and informed the other miners that he was going to the mining pit. Roberts explained that after hours passed and the workers did not see his nephew return, they decided to go and check on his whereabouts.
The police upon arrival, observed that the body was lying above an old dug out pit situated next to a wall of sand, which appeared to have collapsed. The body was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where it was pronounced dead on arrival.
