Body of fisherman found floating in Mahaicony River

Thirty-one-year-old Andrew Barnwell was on Thursday discovered floating in the Mahaicony River by police ranks.

Barnwell, a fisherman of Farm, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was found at about 15:55h.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that Barnwell was last seen alive on May 31, 2022, at about 19:00h, with a 57-year-old fisherman consuming alcohol on a boat at Central Mahaicony River.

The 57-year-old fisherman told detectives that after consuming alcohol, the 31-year-old fisherman went onto another boat which was moored alongside the boat they were on, to sleep.

The man further related that around 01:30h on June 1, he was awakened by his boat rocking and, upon checking, discovered it was untied. He then secured the boat and called out for Barnwell but did not receive any response.

He stated that he made checks around the area but did not locate Barnwell, and he subsequently went back to sleep.

Hours later, the 57-year-old fisherman stated that he asked Barnwell's wife about his whereabouts, who said that she had not seen nor heard from him.

A report was made to the Mahaicony Police Station on Thursday, and a few hours later, a group of fishermen saw Barnwell's floating in the Mahaicony River and informed the police.

The man's body, clad in short blue pants and a dark blue vest, was retrieved by police ranks. Further investigations are ongoing.