Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Boy, 7, drowns after canoe capsizes in Demerara River
A seven-year-old Kwakwani boy was pronounced dead at the Linden hospital complex yesterday, where he was taken after he was fished out of the Demerara River in the vicinity of West Watooka, shortly after 14:00 hrs.
The seven-year-old, Leon Daniels, had reportedly travelled to the mining town for his sister’s birthday on Sunday.
According to reports, the tragedy occurred after Daniel’s elder brother, 17-year-old Brian took him and another little boy out on the river for a boat ride.
A relative holds the lifeless body of Leon Daniels shortly after it was pulled from the Demerara River.
The boat reportedly capsized after Brian turned it around suddenly, following a call from his mother.
Daniel’s grandmother was at the time waiting to take him back to Kwakwani to his parents.
Neighbours said that they observed the boat floating down stream with a little boy sitting on top, and another bigger boy swimming alongside, when they decided to raise an alarm.
Persons from the community quickly flocked to the riverside to see what was happening, and then began to look for the missing child. The Police were also called in.
“But the worst part was that people de looking all over for this little boy and nobody ain’t find he, and is when the owner for the boat turned it over, that was when Leon was observed under it. If people de only think of looking there before, I think his life could have been saved.
There are reports that the owner of the boat questioned why the 17-year-old took the boat out into the river, when he couldn’t operate the engine.
Brian’s mother, Roxanne, who is also Leon’s stepmother, is said to be hypertensive. She had to be rushed to the Linden hospital complex after suffering fainting spells subsequent to the incident.
Police are investigating.
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