Three drown in Abary as outing turns deadly

May 28, 2009 News

A family outing and picnic involving overseas-based Guyanese to the Abary Backlands turned into a nightmare when a boat capsized throwing the occupants overboard. Three died by drowning. The other six survived.

Dead: Yogmattie Singh, called Sharda

Dead are Satesh Kowsilla, 33, and Diana Ramjeet, 8, of Bush Lot Village West Coast Berbice, and Yogmattie Singh, called Sharda, 38, of Number Two Village, Blairmont West Bank Berbice.
Sharda Singh was taken out of the Creek in an unconscious condition and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital but died while receiving treatment.
The bodies of Kowsilla and Ramjeet were recovered late yesterday afternoon.
A number of overseas-based relatives of the eight-year-old either swam ashore or were rescued by others.
The fatal incident occurred around 11:00 hrs when, Kowsilla, reportedly the pilot of the boat was transporting nine persons across the Abary, to the left bank aback of Blairmont.
An eyewitness said that the boat simply rolled over while it was halfway across, throwing everyone into the Creek.
Kowsilla managed to grab his eight-year-old daughter, Angelica, and take her ashore to safety.
He returned to the capsized boat to help save others but went down.
It was supposed to have been a day of fun and frolic for Kowsilla, his wife, Sundradai, and the visiting overseas-based relatives and several friends who were on a trip into the hinterland. They numbered about 20.
A grieving Mrs Kowsilla said that the group left Bush Lot in three vehicles around 8:30 hours.
They drove along the right bank of the Abary until they spotted a suitable site for a picnic on the other side.
Mrs Kowsilla said that a boat was available and she watched while the first set of picknickers got on board for the crossing.

Sympathisers gather at the home of the deceased Satesh Kowsilla at Bush Lot yesterday afternoon.

“I waited for the second trip but as I watched from the bank I saw the boat suddenly capsize and everyone in the water splashing around, screaming desperately and trying to reach the other bank.”
It was then that Kowsilla saved his daughter, brought her to the shore, and went back to save the others and perished.
Several others, who were saved, including some of the overseas-based visiting relatives, were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they were treated and sent away.
These badly traumatized relatives were last night unavailable for comment.
All of Sharda’s children have migrated and at the time of her death she was awaiting a call from the United States Embassy for the necessary documentation for her last child.
Police are investigating the fatal incident.