A boat captain and his passengers are feared drowned while another captain was rescued with severe injuries, after a collision in the Cuyuni River on Monday. A search is ongoing for the missing persons.
A police report stated that the river mishap occurred between 03:47 hours and 04:30 hours on Monday in the Cuyuni River. The collision involved a 19-foot wooden boat powered by a 75 hp Yamaha outboard engine, operated by Lloyd Obermuller, a 60-year-old labourer of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, and Eteringbang Landing. The other craft was a 17-foot wooden boat powered by a 40 hp Yamaha outboard engine operated by Crees Boyde, a miner (age and address unknown.)
Enquiries revealed that both Obermuller and Boyde would normally transport persons from Eteringbang landing to the San Martin landing, Venezuela.
According to the police, on Monday morning, Obermuller left Eteringbang landing en route to San Martin with two passengers. Meanwhile, Boyde had left San Martin, Venezuela, en route to Eteringbang landing at about the same time. As the boats navigated the river, they collided, causing the passengers, Obermuller and Boyde to be flung into the river.
Public-spirited persons immediately came to their assistance, and Boyde was pulled out of the water with a severe injury to his right leg and minor injuries to his hands. He was transported to Venezuela for medical attention.
A search was carried out for Obermuller and his passengers without success. Their names and particulars have not yet been ascertained.
The boats and engines are presently lodged at the Eteringbang Police Station. The search for the missing persons is still in progress.
