The swollen body of 36-year-old Orson Gishard of Wismar, Linden, Region 10 was dragged out of the Mazaruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Sunday morning. He died following a boat mishap on the river on Saturday.
Based on information this newspaper received, three other persons were travelling in the boat at the time of the incident. It was windy, and the waters were rougher than usual, thus the boat, carrying the four individuals to another location, capsized.
Police are working on the theory that, in falling into the water, Gishard may have hit his head, lost consciousness and consequently drowned. The other persons in the boat were reportedly able to make it to shore safely.
Police Commander Ravindranauth Budhram has said the 36-year-old Gishard was among four passengers in the boat when it capsized while crossing the Kaburi Creek in the Mazaruni River, but the incident is being investigated by the Police in ‘F’ Division.
Gishard’s death comes one day after another boat capsized in the Upper Cuyuni River on Friday last. Fortunately, there were no casualties in that mishap, since all the passengers were able to make it back into the boat safely.
Gishard’s sister, Mellisa (only name given), said the father of four had been working with Brian & Ingrid Fung Mining and Trucking Service as a serviceman for only two months, and was making his way into the Issano mining district for work when tragedy struck.
“We were told that he was making his way up to the Issano area when the boat capsized; and they weren’t finding a couple of them, but then, around 06:30 hrs, they call us and said that they found his body and the others was safe,” she related.
She described her brother as a good swimmer and said she is unaware of all the circumstances involved in his demise, but it is reported that Gishard may have hit his head when the vessel capsized and may have lost consciousness and drowned.
Mellisa told this publication that not a lot of information has been afforded the family, and everything is being channelled through her brother’s employers. Efforts made by this publication to elicit a comment from the management of Brian & Ingrid Fung Mining and Trucking Service have been unsuccessful.
Gishard has been described as a jovial person with a kind heart. He had once been a member of the GDF Air Corps, and leaves to mourn his four children along with his parents and siblings. The investigations into his death are ongoing.
