A 17-year-old Parika miner died in a mining pit accident on Tuesday afternoon at Cowpen Backdam, Puruni River in Region Seven.
The teenager was identified by police as Anthony Richard of Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
According to police investigations, the teenager owned a four-inch land dredge that was operated at the same location with three other workers. At about 3.30 pm on Tuesday, Richard and the workers were in his mining pit, ‘jetting’ with a hose when suddenly the soil above him became loose and crumbled, covering the teenager.
An alarm was raised by the other workers and public-spirited persons responded. They dug up the soil to get Richard out but by the time they found him he was lifeless. The body was taken to the Puruni Health Post.
