Fishing boat captain feared dead; fishermen swim to safety after pirate attack

Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 May 2017, 11:53 by Denis Chabrol

A boat captain is missing and two fishermen, who were ordered to jump overboard during an alleged attack by pirates, swam to safety, police said.

Feared dead is 44-year old Mahadeo “Chico” Ramdyal of Kilcoy/Chesney Squatting Area, Corentyne.

Investigators fear that Ramdyal drowned as one of the attackers lashed him to his head after he jumped overboard. “The crew members alone managed to swim to a vessel anchored some 100 meters from the shore,” police said.

The incident occurred about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon on the Corentyne River off Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.

Police said Ramdyal and his two-man crew were attacked and robbed of their catch and a 40hp Yamaha Engine. by two masked men one of whom was armed with a cutlass.

The survivors told investigators that they left on Monday May 15, 2017 at 4 PM in a wooden boat powered by a 40hp Yamaha Engine.