A 28-year-old fisherman of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, described by his family as a devoted father and the sole breadwinner of his household, has been found dead days after he fell overboard while at sea.

Dead is Aladdin Dookie, who had been plying his trade as a fisherman for over seven years.

According to information gathered, Dookie left on Wednesday, March 18, along with three other fishermen to operate near Orealla Village in the Corentyne River. He was captaining the vessel.

Reports indicate that on Saturday, March 21, while attempting to start the boat’s engine, Dookie leaned too far over the edge and fell into the water. The other fishermen reportedly saw him submerge and immediately launched a search, but were unable to locate him.

A search party was subsequently organised; however, initial efforts yielded no results.

His wife, Amrita Singh, told this publication that she received the devastating news around 01:30hrs on Tuesday, March 24, that her husband’s body had been found floating near Siparuta. The police were alerted and later retrieved the body.

Visibly shaken, Singh described her husband as a hardworking provider who prioritised his family above all else.

“Me husband was a good man. He wasn’t a bad person; he always provided for us. If is the last food he get, he ah make certain he wife and pickney eat and left he self without,” she said.

Now left to navigate life without him, Singh said she is uncertain about the future, noting that Dookie was the household’s sole source of income.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.