Police are investigating an incident that resulted in the death of Owen Smith, a 31-year-old gold miner from Kaburi Village which occurred at about 2.30 pm on Thursday at 10 Miles Backdam, Issano, Middle Mazaruni River.
Enquiries, the police said in a release, revealed that Smith was employed by his younger brother, Dorwin Smith, a 30-year-old miner, to work as a ‘jet man’ on a four-inch land dredging operation.
Dorwin reported on Thursday that he was working alongside his now-deceased brother, their father Oliver Smith, and younger brother, Jason Smith, in a pit measuring approximately 40 feet in length, 50 feet in width and 30 feet in depth.
While operating the jet, the release related that Owen was caught in a landslide when a large section of land broke off and fell into the pit, submerging him. The others ran to safety and escaped unharmed.
Afterwards, they returned to rescue Owen but took about fifteen minutes to extricate him from the debris. By then he was unresponsive. He was rushed to the 72 Miles Health Centre, where he was examined and pronounced dead on arrival.
Investigations are in progress.
