A mishap along the Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), on Saturday has claimed the life of 28-year-old Ron Jacabus, a miner of Kabakuburi, Upper Pomeroon River. According to information received, the now dead man was at the time operating a 13-foot wooden boat powered by a 15 HP Yamaha outboard engine when he collided with a 17-foot wooden boat also powered by a 15 HP Yamaha outboard engine and captained by an 11-year-old. According to the lad, he was heading home after dropping his mother off at church, and as he attempted to negotiate a right turn, he observed Jacobus’ boat heading directly towards him. The child further stated that in an effort to avoid a collision, he diverted to his left when the deceased’s boat also changed course in the said direction, causing the right side of the deceased’s boat to collide with the right side of his boat and subsequently with the canal bank.

He also stated that he did not see Jacobus and immediately went home and informed his brother, who accompanied him back to the location of the incident. Upon their return to the location of the accident, they observed Jacobus’s boat overturned, with the bottom facing upwards, prompting him to check underneath the boat, but he was not found. The brother reportedly jumped into the canal and started to search but was later assisted by two brothers of the deceased. Some 15 minutes into the search, the body was fished out of the creek in an unresponsive state.

The injured man was taken to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation is underway.