A three-year-old boy and his father drowned after the small boat they were travelling in capsized in the vicinity of Pap Falls, Essequibo River on Sunday evening.
‘F’ Division Comman-der Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram identified the child as Rudolph Dyal and his father as Michael Dyal, 37, who were returning home when the tragedy occurred. They were from a small community located in the Pap Falls area.
The child’s body was recovered at Mabura on Monday afternoon by police ranks, while his father was found around 10 am yesterday in an area below the Falls.
According to the information provided by Budhram, around 7.30 pm, the father and son along with five other persons were proceeding up the falls in a small boat when they “encountered problems.” He said that as a result those on the boat jumped off and later the child and his father could not be accounted for.
The other five persons, who included a number of Michael Dyal’s children, sustained no injuries during the mishap.
Budhram told Stabroek News that the area where the mishap occurred is very remote. As a result, ranks at Mabura were only informed of the mishap yesterday morning. He said sometime late Monday afternoon, ranks at Mabura found that child’s body in that area. The body had washed up the river to the Mabura area, which is located several miles away from Pap Falls.
Budhram explained that the terrain is very different compared with other interior areas and the water in the river is rough. This, he said, hampered the recovery efforts.
He said that for ranks to travel to Pap Falls from Mahdia it will take two days. Mahdia is closer to the area that Mabura.
Stabroek News understands that the toddler’s body will soon be transported to Linden, where it can be properly stored. In the meantime, ice is being used to help preserve it. Efforts are currently being made to also transport the elder Dyal’s body to Linden.
In recent years, there have been several river mishaps that have resulted in dozens drowning.
In February this year, boat captain Dennis Ramascindo, an unidentified male and eight-year-old Jaden Pereira drowned after the vessel they were travelling in overturned in the Potaro River near Tumatumari in Region 8.
The tragedy occurred sometime after 11 pm. Reports are that the boat with seven passengers, who were bound for Micobie, also in Region 8, developed mechanical problems and overturned in the Potaro River. Four persons managed to survive after sustaining minor injuries, while the three others went missing. The bodies were later recovered.
In April, Kelton Benjamin, 21, went missing following a boat mishap in the Pomeroon River. Benjamin along with several other persons were in a boat when another boat collided with it.
Reports are that the impact of the collision caused the passengers to be thrown overboard and the motor was ripped off the boat.
The other boat did not render assistance but proceeded to Charity and the occupants of the damaged boat were forced to call for assistance from persons living nearby. Benjamin’s body was found three days later.
In August, Devon Lindie, 18, died two months after he was involved in a boat collision in the Berbice River.
