The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) remains in a distraught state after learning of the murder of University student and GASA member Dennis Edghill Jr., who was senselessly killed on Friday evening.
The executive members of the GASA extended their condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased whom they regarded as a member of their family.
Still experiencing feelings of terror and disbelief, the secretary of the GASA Dr. Karem Pilgrim said that the 23-year-old was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to the GASA and recounted that he had even given voluntary services as a swimming instructor to members of the YMCA athletics club. Pilgrim said that the friendship and services he provided were invaluable. “He died, as he lived, lending a helping hand. We will truly, truly miss him,” she said.
Administrator of the Colgrain pool Stephanie Fraser shared in the grief of the GASA and also described Edghill as dependable and helpful, mentioning that he helped as recently as last week’s Swim-A-Thon.
“We could call on him at anytime, day or night and his response was “Give me twenty minutes!” and he would be there. As recently as last Sunday, he prepared the entire pool area for our Swim-A-Thon,” she said.
GASA described him as being the most liked instructor, who had a flair for working with children as he had a knack for getting scared youngsters to overcome their fear of being submerged in the water. According to the GASA he was involved with the PYARG and Red Cross and was skilled in life-saving and First Aid.
They also described him as being jovial, high-spirited, sensitive, enthusiastic, dependable, humble and courageous.
Apart from being a second year Communications student at the University of Guyana, Edghill was a Caribbean Taekwondo Champion and had brought home gold medals from tournaments across the region in territories such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.
In his last tournament, the 2007 Yusin Taekwondo Championships in Suriname, Edghill defeated the reigning champion to capture the gold for his country last August and he had been reportedly preparing for an upcoming regional tournament.
On Saturday last, persons at Colgrain pool were still saddened by his “untimely” passing and chose not to swim, but rather to observe a day of mourning as persons talked quietly, cried and reminisced on the cherished memory of the remarkable young man.
