Guyana: Chinese citizen dies in boat accident

Police in Guyana have reported that the captain of a tugboat involved in a collision with another vessel that left a Chinese national dead is cooperating with their investigation.

In a statement, police said Dai Jianhua was in a speedboat with two other people when the incident occurred at Timber Grant Landing on the Essequibo River on Wednesday evening.

“Investigations revealed that the speedboat carrying the late Dai Jianhua along with two others, Songyajun and Meng Yi Feng, collided with a tug near the Timber Grant Quarry on the Essequibo River, causing the boat’s occupants to fall overboard. The crew members of the tug jumped into the river and provided assistance to the people, who were then transferred to the barge,” the police statement said.

The three injured people were then taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where the deceased Dai Jianhua was pronounced dead by a doctor upon arrival.

Police said Songyajun, who suffered injuries to his upper body and face, was admitted as a patient while the other person, Meng Yi Feng, was treated and released.

“The captain of the tugboat is currently in custody at the Bartica police station and is assisting with the investigation,” the police statement continued.