Two separate incidents of drowning occurred along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, resulting in the deaths of a 15-month-old child and a 12-year-old boy.
On Monday, March 6, 2023, at around 16:00hrs, 15-month-old, Kenley Smith, allegedly drowned in Dredge Creek, Essequibo Coast. The child’s mother had just finished breastfeeding him and left him with his three siblings, the eldest being nine-years-old, while she went to get clothing for the child.
When she returned, she was alerted by her other children that they couldn’t find Kenley. She searched the yard and eventually found the child’s lifeless body in the canal near their Landing. The mother immediately took Kenley to the Charity Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was taken to the hospital’s mortuary, and a post-mortem examination is pending.
The second incident occurred the day before, on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the Anna Regina Canal near the Masjid. Twelve-year-old Masood Browne, a Grade 8 student of the Madina Islamic Academy and resident of Chiney Street, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, allegedly drowned sometime between 10:00hrs and 20:30 pm. Masood had left home at around 08:00hrs to check his fishing line and had returned home with a catch, which he gave to his mother.
He left again at around 09:30hrs to check on his fishing line and did not return home. A search was conducted by relatives, who found his slipper floating in the canal. Later that evening, the boy’s father and other relatives found Masood’s body submerged in the canal during a search. The body was examined, and no marks of violence were found on the exposed parts. The body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, and a post-mortem examination is pending.
The police in Regional Division #2 are investigating both incidents. The deaths of Kenley Smith and Masood Browne are tragic reminders of the dangers of water bodies, and authorities are urging parents and guardians to exercise caution when leaving young children unattended and around water.
