Police are investigating the unnatural death of a 20-year-old miner at Rock Point Backdam, Jawalla Village, Upper Mazaruni.
A police press release stated that Adrian Steve Stephen, 20, a miner from Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, died on Friday, April 19, 2024, at about 23:00 hrs at Rock Point Backdam, Jawalla Village.
Enquiries, the police said, revealed that Stephen was employed by a 44-year-old woman who owns a mining operation at Rock Point Backdam. It was reported that last Friday at about 17:00 hrs, workers returned to camp and Stephen prepared dinner but did not eat.
One of his colleagues told the police that he had observed that Stephen did not have any breakfast or lunch either. However, he retired to bed at about 19:30 hours, the release stated.
According to the release, at about 23:00 hrs, one of Stephen’s colleagues claimed that he was awakened by screams coming from Stephen and assumed that he was having a nightmare. However, upon checking, he observed that Stephen was motionless and immediately alerted his other colleagues.
A report was made to the police and on Saturday at about 11:00 hrs, Stephen was examined by a nurse who pronounced him dead. No marks of violence were seen on the body.
The body is currently at Kamarang District Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Investigations are ongoing.
