Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspected drowning of Courtney Benn, a 43-year-old fisherman of Wineperu Village, Region Seven, whose body was discovered at around 08.00 hours yesterday, floating in the Essequibo River.
Reports are that the suspected drowning occurred in the Essequibo River between 10.00 hours on June 20 and 08.00 hours yesterday.
Investigations revealed that at approximately 06.00 hours on June 20, Benn left home in his wooden boat to check his fishing seine in the Essequibo River. The same day, between 07.30 and 08.00 hours, he visited Ovin Hubert’s shop located on the Sherima Landing, where he sold fish.
Benn then went to another shop about 200 meters from Hubert’s shop and spent approximately 45 minutes consuming high wine. He was last seen alone, paddling his boat towards Wineperu Village.
However, on Friday, June 21, at approximately 08.10 hours, Benn’s boat was found drifting in the Essequibo River near Wineperu Village. His personal belongings were inside the boat, but Benn was not present.
Upon finding the drifting boat, residents checked Benn’s home and, failing to locate him, raised an alarm. A search party was formed by relatives and community members along with the police, and at about 08.00 hours yesterday morning, Benn’s body was discovered floating in the Essequibo River.
His body was transported to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Benn’s death.
