The body of missing fisherman Jagheshwar Persaud, who fell overboard on Tuesday morning, has been recovered.
The body of Persaud, 30, called ‘Navin’ and ‘Markai,’ was discovered floating in waters of the Corentyne River at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, yesterday. He did not know how to swim.
His sister, Annie Persaud, last evening told Stabroek News that her brother’s body was discovered sometime around noon.
She noted that her cousins found the body floating in the river as search teams continued to scour the Corentyne River for his body.
Persaud, of Lot 177 Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, went missing after falling overboard from a fishing boat while he and others were on their way to retrieve a seine. The net was reported floating in the Corentyne River and Persaud went with the men to lend assistance.
The fishermen later told his family that Persaud was next to the cabin retrieving a soda to give to the captain when a heavy wave lashed the boat. He lost his balance and fell into the rough Corentyne River waters.
The boat owner, Gajadhar Bisnauth, of Number 64 Village, was told by fishermen that his seine was sabotaged and was floating in the river.
Bisnauth, after receiving the news, travelled along with Persaud and four other men to retrieve the seine. He said when they reached approximately five miles from shore, Persaud fell overboard.
Bisnauth said they tried to find Persaud but their efforts were in vain.
So far, police have taken statements from Bisnauth and the other seamen who were present at the time of the incident.
Annie Persaud last evening told this publication that a post-mortem examination would be done on her brother’s body today, after which he will be laid to rest.
