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The captain of a Bartica passenger speed-boat is missing and feared drowned following a collision between his boat and a Bartica Hospital river ambulance captained by 59-year-old Bernard Singh on Saturday Night along the Essequibo River.
The missing boat captain had been identified as Claude Pollard called ‘Bumpa’.
Reports are that four of seven passengers who were travelling in his boat at the time and the captain of the ambulance sustained injuries.One other person who was on board the ambulance sustained minor injuries.
The injured were rushed to the Bartica hospital for treatment.
According to the police, the accident occurred around 7:15 pm in the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Stampa Point, closer to Bartica.
“Enquiries disclosed that on 2021-01-30 at 19:15 hrs the said boat ambulance was proceeding from Parika to Bartica along the Essequibo river while the other boat was traveling from Bartica enroute to Parika and while in the vicinity of Stampa Point the two boats collided causing four of the passengers to receive injuries,” Police said in a statement.
Pollard was flung from the boat while his boat sustained major structural damages.
Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall noted that a search has commenced for Pollard as investigations into the accident are ongoing.
According to maritime laws, passengers boats are not expected to traverse the waterways beyond 5:30 pm.
