ANOTHER crew member of Chrisann-V was rescued yesterday by a passing passenger speedboat and the Coast Guard, and was taken to Charity Hospital, where, he received medical attention. Deochand Massidass, 17, called “Speedy”, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, was rescued in the Atlantic Ocean, near Tiger Beach, about 30 miles from Charity by a passenger speedboat and was later collected by the Coast Guard vessel.
Massidass was the crewman who was sharing a life ring with Elroy Jack, who was rescued on Saturday by a passenger boat.
Elroy Jack Jnr who was found holding onto a lifebuoy on Saturday in the Atlantic Ocean, in the vicinity of Tiger Beach, North West District, Region 1 (Barima/Waini) was yesterday flown to Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara, where he was greeted by family members and relatives.
The shaken Jack Jnr was relieved to be going home with his father, Elbert Jack Snr, who is happy that his son was found alive.
He had received medical attention at the Mabaruma Hospital in Region 1 after he was rescued by a passing speedboat on Saturday, at about 13:00hrs and handed over to the Coast Guard vessel, which took him to the nearest hospital.
Jack Jnr managed to hold onto a life ring he had shared with another crew member for more than 60 hours, after they had jumped into the Atlantic after the tug, MV Chrisann-V, sank while towing a barge which was loaded with land-dredging equipment destined for the North West District on Wednesday night.
Jack had drifted away from the barge as a result of turbulent waters and got separated from the man sometime yesterday when they were near shore.
Jack was rescued by a passing passenger speedboat near Tiger Beach, about 40 miles from where the vessel had sunk. He was taken to the Waini area where he was picked up by the Coast Guard boat.
At Ogle International Airport yesterday morning, Jack was too weak to speak to the media; but his father thanked Minister of Public Works and Communication, Robeson Benn, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and other parties that were involved in the search and rescue efforts.
Those still unaccounted for are the captain of the vessel, John Vansluytman, Julian Garraway and Charles Fredericks.
Five others survived by jumping overboard and managing to swim to the barge where they stayed until they were rescued on Thursday afternoon.
They include, Subhash Kristen, 18, of Meadow Bank; and Chris Narine, 18, of Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara, and three others.
MV Christann-V, a cargo vessel, was towing a barge when it reportedly began (making water) taking in water somewhere in the vicinity of the Pomeroon River mouth on Wednesday night.
Harbour Master, Volton Skeete, told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that up to press time, the Coast Guard vessel and another privately-owned boat were out in the Atlantic Ocean searching for the three men, who are still missing.
He said that Elroy Jack’s survival is testimony that life saving equipment does save lives, as he was in the water drifting for more than 60 hours, clinging to a life ring, before he was rescued.