A 35-year-old dredge owner and his 30-year-old reputed Brazilian wife were almost burnt to death after a known suspect doused them with gasoline and set them alight at their camp in Toroparo Backdam, Cuyuni River, in the wee hours of Thursday morning.
Reports indicate that the couple received burns that cover approximately 80 per cent of their bodies. They are currently patients at the Bartica Hospital.

The dredge owner was identified as a miner of Karrau Village, who previously lived at Jango Town, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

When contacted, the police confirmed that the attempted murder occurred and they have launched an investigation.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the miner and his wife were at the Toroparo Landing at a function on Wednesday when they received information that the suspect was at their camp.
The couple then left the landing and headed to their camp where they confronted the suspect. There, an argument ensued and the dredge owner whipped out a cutlass and broadsided the suspect.

The suspect later returned in the wee hours of Thursday morning and saw the miner and his wife asleep on their mattress and doused them with gasoline before setting them alight and escaping on foot.

The couple then rolled on the ground and managed to put out the flames on their bodies and later made contact with an associate to take them to the hospital.