A 66-year-old Venezuelan diver died after failing to resurface while carrying out diving operations to refloat the MV Barima vessel in the Essequibo River, about 10 nautical miles off Anna Regina.

Police identified the deceased as Luis Martinez, who was part of a crew that departed Kingston Wharf, Georgetown, aboard a vessel at about 5:14 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28.

Investigators said in a statement this morning that the crew was heading to the Essequibo River to assist in refloating another vessel.
Martinez reportedly entered the water to conduct diving operations but failed to resurface after approximately 20 minutes.

Concerned crew members subsequently pulled him from the water using a rope attached to his body. He was found motionless and frothing at the mouth.

The crew transported Martinez to the Transport and Harbours Department Wharf at Stabroek, Georgetown, where an ambulance was summoned.

A doctor pronounced him dead at about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29.

Police said an examination of the body revealed no marks of violence on the exposed parts. His body was subsequently taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

While the information was released four days after the incident, the police did not make it clear whether it occurred during the refloating of the MV Barima where efforts are ongoing in the said location.