A tragic river collision on Monday night has claimed the life of 20-year-old Damion Fredericks, a skilled boat builder known locally as “Smirf,” in the Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two.

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 10:30 pm near Jacklow, following an evening of socialising at bars in Charity. Fredericks, along with fellow boat builders Shane Narine and Joseph Melville, had been consuming alcohol before departing in separate boats for their respective homes.

Investigations revealed that Fredericks and Narine left together in a wooden balahoo powered by a 40hp Yamaha engine, while Melville departed with another man, Akash, to retrieve his own vessel. As Melville was crossing the river after collecting his boat, his vessel was struck on the left side, causing it to capsize and throwing him into the water.

An eyewitness, Roland Ramdeen, recounted hearing a loud impact from his home and rushing to the scene. He discovered two damaged boats and found both Fredericks and Narine with severe head and facial injuries. Fredericks was unresponsive, while Narine was conscious but in critical pain.

Ramdeen quickly transported Narine to the Charity Hospital, where he was admitted and later transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital in critical condition. Fredericks was taken separately by relatives to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was subsequently transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.

Melville, who sustained minor injuries, was treated at the hospital and later taken into police custody as investigations continue into the fatal incident.

The tragedy has cast a pall over the Pomeroon boat-building community, which is still reeling from another river fatality earlier this year. Police are urging river users to exercise caution and avoid operating vessels under the influence of alcohol as the investigation proceeds.