The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday reported that they managed to retrieve the decomposing body of pork-knocker Michael Lesile from the bottom of the Kaieteur gorge, but lost it while transporting it down a rapid on Monday.

The army said at 13:30h on Monday, a GDF team comprising of two Officers and 12 soldiers recovered the body of missing gold miner, Michael Leslie, at the bottom of the Kaieteur gorge.

However, it was not possible to take it up by rope to the top of the Kaieteur Falls. The recovery team placed the remains in a body bag, wrapped it in a tarpaulin, and proceeded to transport it via stretcher to Tukeit – a three and a half hour trek, the GDF said.

The army said while traversing the rapid, the legs of one of the soldiers became entangled in the rope that restrained the body, and both the soldier and the body were dragged towards the rapids.

To save the soldier, a decision was taken by the other team members to sever the rope and the miner’s remains were swept further into the rapids and disappeared. The soldier was rescued. Several searches were conducted up until nightfall to locate the body, the GDF reported.

The search resumed yesterday morning and continued throughout the day but the body has not yet been found. Additional searches will be conducted tomorrow and these will include civilians who have knowledge of the area.

Meanwhile, members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be travelling upriver from Mahdia in the event that the body floats past Tukeit.

The brother of the dead miner, Mr. Courtney Perry, is involved in the search efforts.

Rennie Michael Lesile, 36, of 328 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was last seen on November 29, 2009 in the Potaro area in a canoe on his way to his mining camp.

It is alleged that he encountered difficulties and may have drowned although he was a relatively good swimmer. His body was spotted a few days later at the bottom of the Kaieteur Falls.

He had reportedly left his camp to take out someone to the airstrip and was on his way back accompanied by his dog when tragedy struck.
His body was spotted in between some rocks but the dog reportedly survived.