A convicted prisoner who was working in the piggery at  Sibley Hall Prison, Mazaruni  drowned during a swimming mishap in the Mazaruni River yesterday at about 9:30 am, the Guyana Prison Service said in a press release last evening.

According to reports, the release stated,  prisoner Augustino Smith, 25,  was working in the piggery along with 18 other prisoners. At approximately 9:20 am he and several other prisoners had completed their chores and were given permission to clean themselves and while Smith  was swimming in the river he was observed to be struggling.

A fellow prisoner tried to assist, the release said,  but Smith went under the water  and another prisoner then dived in to help and was able to locate him and bring him to the surface.

The supervising officer performed CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the unconscious prisoner but he did not respond.  Then he was  immediately  referred to the Public Hospital Bartica where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Smith of Canvas City, Linden, was convicted for possession of cannabis and was sentenced to three and a half years and was to be released in March 2010.

The police are currently investigating  the incident and the prisoner’s relatives were duly informed.

Meanwhile, the prisons administration has expressed regret at the loss of the prisoner’s life and   offered condolences to all his bereaved relatives.