The body of a miner, Exley Boyal, a 40-year-old from Batavia Village, Cuyuni River, was found at about 5.30 pm on Friday floating in the Essequibo River.
The body was subsequently escorted to the Bartica Hospital, a statement from the police said yesterday.
According to reports, the miner went missing on Thursday, April 18, 2024, between 8.30 pm and 10.45 pm while traveling from Bartica to Burn Bush, Essequibo River.
On Thursday at around 10:45 pm, a boat captain from Falmouth, Essequibo River called the Bartica Police Station and reported that he saw a small wooden boat with a 15 hp Yamaha outboard engine drifting in the vicinity of Byderabo, Essequibo River. He also stated that the engine was on, but no one was in the boat.
The scene was visited by a rank, and the boat was seen. The boat was then searched, and 1 ZTE Cellular Phone and 4 five-gallon pails were found. Thereafter, the boat was taken to the Bartica Police Station, where it was lodged.
A telephone number for the wife of the deceased was obtained and she was contacted shortly thereafter and told of the discovery.
She stated that she, her husband and a 59-year-old chainsaw operator from Batavia Village, traveled to Bartica. She said that she disembarked at Bartica Market, while her husband and the chainsaw operator proceeded to Burn Bush, Essequibo River.
Following the discovery, the 59-year-old male was contacted and questioned by ranks, and he said that after Boyal’s wife disembarked at Bartica Market, he and Exley went to Sherry’s Saw Mill at Burn Bush Essequibo River. But before proceeding, they stopped at Dass’s Liquor Store at First Avenue, Bartica purchased half a bottle of High Wine and started imbibing.
He added that they arrived safely at Sherry’s Saw Mill, and after a while, Exley left Burn Bush, returning to Bartica with the boat.
As such, a search party was formed, and searches were conducted in the area for Exley, but he was not found during that search.
