By Nafeeza Yahya

NINETEEN–year-old maintenance worker Leroy Bennett, of Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice, fell some 45 feet to his death on Friday while working on the roof of the Ancient County Rice Mill at Tarlogie village, Corentyne Coast in Region Six.According to rice mill manager Rameshwar Chanilal, Bennett was doing routine maintenance work on some pipes, at about 14:20h, when the mishap occurred. He was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The police were called in and the mill was locked down as an investigation was launched.
Bennett family members are perturbed at the manner in which the incident was related to them, and are of the view that something is amiss. As such, they are calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

His mother, Cora Bennet, told this newspaper that she had received a telephone call informing her that the young man had received a minor injury at work and was being taken to the Port Mourant Hospital; but she got the shock of her life when she arrived at the hospital and saw her son’s lifeless body. The young man was subsequently pronounced dead.

“I could not believe it. How they could tell me is a lil injury and me son dead?” the distraught woman asked.

The young man was described as having been a fun loving person who had a lot of potential to become successful. A police investigation has been launched.