Last Updated on Sunday, 1 November 2026, 14:19 by Written By Denis Chabrol
Almost four days after a Venezuelan diver, here to refloat the MV Barima ferry, died, the Guyana Police Force on Sunday said he died while trying to salvage another vessel in the Essequibo region.
Dead is 66-year old Luis Martinez. He reportedly died about 6:3 PM on Wednesday October 28 about 10 naitical miles off the coast of Anna Regina, Essequibo.
“Upon arrival at the location, Martinez reportedly entered the water to carry out diving operations. However, after approximately 20 minutes, he failed to resurface, causing concern among the crew members.
The crew subsequently pulled Martinez from the water using a rope attached to his body and discovered that he was motionless and frothing at the mouth,” the Guyana Police Force said in a statement.
The Ministry of Public Works, responsible for Transport and Harbours Department, referred enquiries to the Ministry of Public Utilities, under which maritime search and rescue falls, but a spokeswoman did not immediately provide any informatio.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that Martinez departed the Kingston Wharf, Georgetown, about 5:14 PM aboard a vessel with several other crew members to participate in an operation to refloat another vessel in the Essequibo River.
Martinez was subsequently transported to the Transport and Harbours Department Wharf at Stabroek, Georgetown, where ambulance personnel were summoned.
He was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty on Thursday October 29, 2026, about 2:30 PM.
Police said the body was examined and no marks of violence were observed on the exposed parts. It was subsequently escorted to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination, police added.
