Friendship surveyor drowns in Berbice River

The body of a road surveyor was discovered in the Berbice River yesterday afternoon.

Seon Hughes
Seon Hughes

The man has been identified as Seon Hughes, 25, of Lot 133 Friendship Village, East Coast Demerara. According to reports, the father of two disappeared in the Berbice River, while on duty.

According to information gathered, a seven-man crew, was carrying out a survey at Lansdale, East Bank Berbice on Friday, when the young man lost his life.

Although details of the incident are not available at this time, according to a police source, one of the member of the crew disclosed that Hughes was walking backward in proximity of a koker, assisting with providing a reading, when he lost his balance, slipped into the water and started to drift out into the river. It was reported that a few of his colleagues rushed after him, but Hughes disappeared before the men could rescue him.

A search began immediately to find Hughes on Friday, but was unsuccessful until yesterday afternoon when Hughes’ lifeless body was pulled from the water a short distance from where he was last seen.

An investigation is ongoing and a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed shortly.