A mishap on the Moruca River Mouth, North West District, on Friday afternoon claimed the life of a 55-year-old businessman and boat captain, police said.
Dead is John Henry, called “Johnny,” of Kumaka Waterfront, Moruca. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Henry and his nephew left Kumaka earlier in the day in a blue and white wooden shed boat powered by a 225 HP Yamaha outboard engine and travelled to Charity, Essequibo, to purchase supplies.
Police said that at about 3:40 p.m., the two men departed Charity for Moruca with the boat loaded with goods. While travelling along the Moruca River Mouth, Henry reportedly lost control of the vessel and collided with a large tree limb hanging over the southern side of the river.
The collision left the boat extensively damaged and both occupants injured. They were taken to the Kumaka District Hospital, where Henry later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.
His body is at the Moruca District Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. The other occupant received treatment and was later transferred to the Lima Public Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.
