POLICE are investigating a mining-pit accident on Monday last at Highwood “backdam,” North West District (NWD), which resulted in the death of 58-year-old pork knocker Christopher Bumbury, the law-enforcement agency said on Wednesday last.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that Bumbury of Matthew’s Ridge, NWD, was reportedly killed when the southern wall of the dug-out mining pit, measuring about 15 feet in width by 20 feet in length by 22 feet in depth, caved in.

“He and another workmate were at the time of the incident digging gravel at the bottom of the southern wall which collapsed, causing the victim to meet his demise.

As a result, his workmate Hilton Ward ran out of the pit and later returned with two other workmates, Paul Bumbury and Wilfred Bumbury, both of whom assisted in a search for the victim,” the GPF noted.

The victim’s motionless body was found about 45 minutes after the cave-in. There were reportedly no marks of violence seen on his body after examination by police.

An official declaration of death was made at the Port Kaituma District Hospital.
Bumbury’s body was placed in the hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem as authorities continue to investigate.