AUBREY Bowen, 29, who survived the Mazaruni River boats accident on Tuesday, spoke about his ordeal yesterday.
He was a sailor on the vessel with two 75 horse power (hp) engines captained by the man only known as ‘Beast’.
Bowen said he had left his home

Monday for work on the boat which transports passengers to various areas in the Mazaruni River. They took fuel to Crab Falls on Monday afternoon and they overnighted there.
At the time of the collision, they were returning to Bartica with 12 passengers when their boat collided with the other and he, a  woman and ‘Beast’ survived.
Bowen said they would usually wear life jackets but, since they were chartered to transport fuel, none was on board.
He said passengers in the riverine areas do not, normally, travel with life jackets, as is required by law and chances are taken at times.
Penny Grimes, 37, of Salem Village, East Bank Essequibo, whose husband, Ulric Grimes is also reported missing told this newspaper that he left work at Puruni on Monday at 06:00hrs and was returning home when he met the tragedy.
She said she received information on Tuesday afternoon, from a man named Seeram, who owns a fuel tanker that was in the area of the collision and he told her that her husband was on the boat captained by ‘Beast’.
She said he confirmed that her husband was on the bow seat and saw the oncoming boat, alerted the captain and was the first to jump overboard but never came back up.
Always loving
Grimes said her husband was always loving and caring and worked to support his family. He has left six children, four girls and two boys.
Yesterday morning, family members of Jermaine Calistro were seen building a tent for the wake and funeral service.
His mother, Carol Calistro was still in shock and declined to comment.
But his cousin, Denise Jackson, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle, said she last saw him on Sunday. He would, usually, be away from home for two to three weeks but returns to take care of his mother.
With tears in her eyes, Jackson smiled, saying Jermaine was quiet, loving and caring.
His friend, Delancy Roberts, on hearing of the crash, was travelling to Parika to join the rescue team and found the police and other persons at Crab Island.
They attempted to float the sunken boat to take off the two 75 hp engines and, in the process, the drowned Jermaine was found in it.
Roberts said the boats were completely destroyed but their engines were recovered.
The other survivors were eight passengers on the boat going to Bartica.