EIGHTEEN passengers were, on Saturday afternoon, rescued in the middle of the Essequibo River after the boat they were travelling in sank.
The incident occurred around 14:30hrs. The Sunday Chronicle understands that the boat departed Parika, East Bank Essequibo for Supenaam and, later, it began to take in water.

The captain, identified as Anil Singh, decided to steer the boat – “King Kind” – to the end of the river close to the mangroves so that passengers could disembark and hold on to the mangroves.
A video showed the passengers gripping the mangroves while their items of baggage were floating. Another boat was sent from Parika for the passengers and took them to Supenaam.

Monitor for the Parika/Supenaam Speed Boat Association, Sweershankar, said all passengers arrived safely but were drenched.
He said that he was thankful that no one was hurt.

“It was terrifying, we just had to hold on to bushes, and our bodies were in the water, I am thankful for life but my phone is damaged,” Narine, a passenger related.
Other passengers were thankful for life. Many of them claimed they lost valuable items and their cellphones.

Among the passengers was a troupe of comedians who were scheduled to perform Saturday night at a resort at Capoey, Region Two.