A Chinese national working on the new Demerara Harbour Bridge is missing after falling into the river last evening. An overnight search failed to find him.
A statement from the Ministry of Public Works follows:
At approximately 20:20 hours on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, a Chinese national employed by the contractor was involved in an accident during rigging operations at Pier 34 (P34) on the Demerara River. The incident occurred while offloading materials from a barge.
The worker was carried by the swift current downstream. Immediate search and rescue operations were initiated by the company’s emergency response team, with assistance from the Coast Guard and police units on night patrol in the area. Despite extensive efforts throughout the night, including the deployment of a diver, the worker has not been located.
The searching continued throughout the night and will continue until the worker is found. The Contractor is fully cooperating with local authorities and an investigation has been launched by the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the Ministry of Labour to fully investigate the incident.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also issued the following release:
Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn, visited the New Demerara River Bridge project earlier today (January 9, 2025) as efforts continue to recover a worker who reportedly fell into the river during the evening.
The Minister conducted site visits from 3:00 am to 5:00 am and again from 7:00 am to 8:00 am to oversee the ongoing search operations and engage with the teams involved.
Search efforts are currently being carried out by the Guyana Defense Force Coast Guard, the Marine Wing of the Guyana Police Force, and other relevant agencies. These teams are working tirelessly along the waterway and surrounding areas to locate the missing worker and bring closure to this unfortunate incident.
The Ministry of Home Affairs remains committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
The Ministry extends its thoughts and prayers to the worker’s family and colleagues during this difficult time.