A boat captain is now dead and a nurse hospitalised after a mishap in the Corentyne River involving the Orealla/Siparuta River Ambulance.
Dead is 65-year-old Glen DeVair called ‘Shiko’ of Orealla Village, a former Toshao who worked as an ambulance captain employed by the Health Ministry. The injured woman has been identified as 29-year-old Shunika Williams, a nurse at the Orealla Health Center.
The incident occurred sometime between 01:00hrs and 11:30hrs today (Saturday, May 10, 2025).
Based on information received, Deveire captained the ambulance from Orealla this morning, escorting a patient and the nurse to the Skeldon Hospital in Corriverton, Berbice.
The captain and the nurse were returning to the village when the boat reportedly hit a tree at about 05:00h today.
Hours after the river ambulance failed to return to the village, a search party was dispatched, and the vessel was later found stuck between some trees on the left bank of the Corentyne River.
The captain was pronounced dead while the nurse, who is said to be pregnant, was found in an unconscious state. She was taken to the Skeldon Hospital, where she was treated and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.
Investigations are ongoing.
