When he stepped ashore at Golden Fleece koker on the Essequibo coast on Monday afternoon, a large crowd had gathered to see the man who cheated death and a watery grave for some 20 hours in turbulent Atlantic Ocean waters.
GUYANESE Mahendra Persaud, who lives at Lot 2 Main Road, San Felix, Venezuela, was rescued by fishermen Monday afternoon after struggling for some 20 hours in turbulent Atlantic Ocean waters.

He told the Guyana Chronicle he thanks God for saving his life but said thoughts of his three-year-old son and wife, Jacklyn, gave him strength to hold on.

Persaud vowed not to travel in the Atlantic Ocean again.

He said he and four crew men left San Felix, for Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Friday evening, in a boat.

Persaud said he was returning here after five years to visit his sister at Airy Hall, on Essequibo Coast, bringing a quantity of detergents, soap powder, steel plates and juices to sell.

He said the journey started off well and the vessel sailed safely off the Waini sea coast and the dangerous ‘Iron Punt’ area in the vicinity of Barima and Orinoco river mouths.

They were at a location called ‘Dauntless’, just off Leguan in Essequibo River when tragedy struck about 20:00 h Sunday night.

According to Persaud, there were very rough, high waves and the captain, named Michael, tried his best to ride the swellings but, suddenly, a very huge one capsized the boat, throwing all of them out into the dark.

Persaud said they separated from each other and death stared him in the face while swimming and being tossed around in the water.

He recalled that a lifebuoy suddenly appeared and he held on it and drifted for the rest of the night praying to The Almighty.

Persaud said, at daylight Monday morning, he did not know where he was but saw small houses and the shoreline which gave him hope.

He said he suffered blisters on his skin and cramp but refused to give up and God indeed answered his prayer when he saw two boats with fishermen not far away.

With the little strength left in his body, Persaud said he waved to them and they went to his rescue.

At Golden Fleece koker, also on Essequibo Coast, where he stepped ashore, a large crowd gathered Monday afternoon to see the man who cheated death and a watery grave for some 20 hours.

His sister, Sandy Persaud, 29, was also thankful for the life of her brother, who said he lost two million bolivars worth of goods in the mishap.