Delicate task extracting bodies from wreckage
…bodies to be flown to city today

GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces personnel were, at approximately 7am yesterday, able to reach the crash site of the Trans-Guyana Cessna aircraft which went down with two persons on board last Saturday; but up to late last evening, they were cautiously attempting to remove the bodies of the pilot, Blake Slater, from the cockpit, and Cargo Loader Dwayne Anthony Newton from beneath barrels of fuel.The Guyana Chronicle was informed that freeing the bodies from the wreckage proved an uphill task, because of the risk of fire when attempting to cut the bodies loose, hence the bodies could not have been flown to the city yesterday.
An official confirmed that as one of the factors preventing the rescuers from removing the bodies and having them flown to the city, but the official said the task is expected to be accomplished today.
According to information received, rescuers face another problem — crawling, flying and walking ‘bodies’.
While attempts to extract the bodies from the wreckage were put on hold last night, they were expected to recommence at first light this morning.
During an update on Sunday, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) told the media that the rescuers were approximately one mile from the crash site. That was after the plane had been located earlier in the day and Special Forces personnel had been inserted some distance away from the wreckage and had begun trekking to the site.
Special Forces personnel were yesterday clearing a location close to the wreckage to enable the Guyana Defence Force chopper to land and collect the bodies for transport to the Olive Creek Airstrip, from where they would be placed in an aircraft that would shuttle them to the Ogle International Airport today.
The bodies would today be uplifted from the Ogle airport by the Lyken Funeral Parlour, and taken to the Merriman Funeral Home.

(By Leroy Smith)