THE body of 28-year-old Kevin Carmichael of Lot 8 Paradise, West Coast Berbice was fished out of a river in the hinterland by his co-workers yesterday morning.

The father of five was reportedly with his brother and a cousin swimming from one side of the river to the next on Wednesday afternoon when he suddenly began experiencing problems and went under the water.

His brother and cousin searched extensively for him, but came up empty-handed; but when the search was resumed yesterday morning, the man’s body was discovered.

The body was brought out of the backdam and later transported to Bartica, then to Parika, where it was retrieved by undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Parlour. The man’s relatives who showed up at the parlour to identify the body wept uncontrollably as they watched it being wheeled into the morgue.

His uncle said they were at home in Berbice on Wednesday afternoon when they received word that the man had drowned. The Chronicle was told that the man could swim, although it was unknown how strong a swimmer he had been.

Carmichael had been working in the interior for almost five years, and it was only two weeks ago that he began working at the location where he met his demise. His employer Harish Persaud was also present at the funeral parlour when the body was identified by residents. A post-mortem is expected to be performed on the body next week Wednesday.
Carmichael’s youngest child is not yet two years old.
By Leroy Smith