Heatburn man found dead in Berbice River

An East Bank Berbice man is believed to have drowned in the Berbice River.

Ramesh Seegolam, also known as ‘Mikey,’ 30, of Pepper Street, Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice, was last seen alive swimming in the river with a couple, with whom he is said to be friends, and a young child on Monday afternoon.

Ramesh Seegolam
Usha Seegolam

His body washed up on the Berbice River shore yesterday.

According to his mother, Usha Seegolam, 57, the man left home with the couple to go swimming on Monday afternoon around 5pm. She noted that her son would drink on a regular basis and it was believed that he was highly intoxicated when he left for the swimming trip.

“A man and a lady and me son go swim, and after five she come back and say she na see am back and she bring he clothes come,” the woman said. The mother further explained that she spoke with the child who accompanied them. The child informed that “since he go in the water he na come out back.”

It was during her interview with Stabroek News that villagers brought the message that Seegolam’s body had washed up exactly where he began his swimming trip. The man who discovered his body said that the body was caught in a fishing net hence it did not float further away. Meanwhile, police have since launched an investigation and held the couple whom Seegolam was last seen with for questioning.

Neighbours of Seegolam, an estate worker, stated that they were surprised when he left to go swimming with the couple, since he and the woman had been involved in a heated argument last week.

Villagers described Seegolam as being a friendly and mannerly person. He is survived by his parents.