…survivors say ‘drunk’ Coastguards rammed vessel from behind, then tried to flee the scene

RESCUERS scoured the Pomeroon River near the village of Martindale on Tuesday with no luck as they searched for the body of a 32-year old farmer who was flung from a ‘goods’ boat after a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) crashed into its stern on Monday night.
Missing and feared dead is Ryan Khayum.

The young man and his wife, Chandanie, and two other men who are said to be his cousins were flung from their vessel around 21:00hrs on Monday night after a GDF Coastguard vessel crashed into them.

The GDF, in a statement, said that the vessel, GDFS HAWK 1028, which had four ranks on board, was returning from Charity to the Floating Base along the Pomeroon River when it collided with the one in which the civilians were travelling.

Khayum’s wife is hospitalised at Charity with head injuries, while the two injured men were discharged on Tuesday.

Reports are that the Khayums would usually carry their ‘goods’ to Charity to sell to buyers who would ship those items, such as vegetables and coconuts, to the capital for resale.
According to Charity residents, Mondays are usually very busy, and persons usually try to leave the port by nightfall to get to their homes after transacting business. The Khayums left Charity in their ‘goods’ boat, which was powered by a small 15hp engine, for their home on Monday evening, sometime after nightfall.

Reports are that the GDF ranks from the Floating Base are in the habit of travelling to Charity on Monday nights to party, and would hurriedly leave the area for their base, minus lights on their boat.

The injured men related that as they passed Martindale, they heard the GDF vessel in the distance but saw no lights. They related that the vessel rammed the stern of their vessel, pitching Ryan and his wife into the water.

Reports are that the ranks attempted to escape from the scene, as they were unaware that the couple were not the only occupants of the small vessel.

Chandanie Khayum related to her family members that she felt someone trying to push her downwards into the water. She related that the person then left her in the water, while her husband called out for the others to help her.

After fighting to stay afloat, she was rescued by one of the two other occupants of their boat, and residents of Martindale ventured out to help.

The injured trio were taken to Charity in a civilian vessel, and later rushed to the hospital. At Charity, residents noted that the soldiers appeared heavily intoxicated, causing persons to immediately become concerned. They related that it was the third nighttime accident on the Pomeroon waterway involving the GDF vessel.

The GDF said on Monday night that it has launched an inquiry into the accident.