POPULAR Linden businessman, 37-year-old Colin “Tom” Mentis, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Linden Hospital yesterday after surviving three or more hours underwater when he accidentally drove off the bridge linking Wismar and Linden proper, popularly known as the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge. 

According to the Police, Mentis, owner of Tom’s Beverage Depot on Republic Avenue, Linden, apparently lost control of his white Toyota Tundra as he negotiated the Bridge, and, crashing through the protective railing, plunged headlong into the Demerara River. The incident reportedly occurred at around 7:30hrs.
Reports are that Mentis was en route to his Fair’s Rust home in Linden, having attended an ‘All-White Party’ over at Christianburg, and, in the spirit of the Christmas Season, just finished handing out $1,000 bills to underprivileged children in the same neighbourhood the fete was held, as was his wont at this time of year.
He had reportedly just entered the eastern end of the Bridge, and was almost midway, when his vehicle ran into trouble. How he managed to survive three or more hours underwater is still a mystery, but residents say when both he and the vehicle were finally located and extricated from the River, Mentis was still very much alive, and was immediately whisked away to the Linden Hospital Complex.
A battery of doctors attended to him even though the conditions were somewhat unfavourable, what with many curious persons converging on the Emergency Unit, thereby preventing medical staff on duty from working effectively.
The doctors tried valiantly to save Mentis, who still had a pulse beat, but was bleeding profusely through his nostrils and mouth. Women in particular wept and prayed for his recovery, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
He leaves to mourn his reputed wife, Kelly Ann Morris, and their two children, Kelcioa, 8, and Shania 5.
Family members had to be consoled, and work at the businessplace where some twenty persons are employed, naturally came to a halt.
Written By Joe Chapman