The search for miner, Ray Payne also known as ‘Rasta Man’ has ended after his body was retrieved from the Mazaruni River.
He went missing after a boat he was travelling in hit a rock and sank on August 15.
According to a police report, the incident occurred at about 8.40 pm in the Middle Mazaruni River.
On the day in question, Shojhi Roberts, a ranger, of Isseneru Village, Middle Mazaruni River, borrowed the village’s wooden boat, powered by an outboard engine and left with Payne and another man, Mark Benn, for Apaiqua Landing, located some five minutes away.
Whilst travelling, the boat collided with a rock, causing the occupants to be flung into the river.
Benn and Roberts both managed to swim to shore, however Payne never made it. An alarm was raised and a search party formed, but the missing man was not found.
The matter was reported to the police and ranks assisted by the villagers formed a larger search party to find the missing man. Roberts was meanwhile, placed in police custody
Payne’s body will be transported to Georgetown for a post-mortem examination which is expected to be conducted shortly.
