Posted by Samuel on Wed 14th Sep, 2022 - tori.ng
The deceased naval rating, it was learned, fell into the water while on escort duty onboard SECO barge, which was involved in a head-on collision with a speed boat.
A naval rating has sadly perished in Bayelsa State after a boat mishap, Vanguard reports.
The boat mishap involving a barge belonging to a ship repair and building company, Southern Engineering Co. Ltd (SECO) and an unidentified speed boat along the River Onitsha channel of Anambra State has claimed the life of a naval rating.
It was learned that five days after the tragic incident, the corpse of the deceased naval rating was recovered by the operatives of NNS Soroh along Olugbobiri Creek in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The deceased naval rating, it was learned, fell into the water while on escort duty onboard SECO barge, which was involved in a head-on collision with a speed boat.
Efforts by the combined rescue team of Navy and fishermen proved abortive until September 8, 2022, when his corpse was recovered in Bayelsa.
According to the source, the incident occurred on September 3, 2022, at 8p.m. and the recovered corpse had been deposited at the Nigerian Navy Referral Hospital in Warri, Delta State.
A Naval source, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident was attributed to non-use of life jacket and helmet by the deceased Naval rating while poor visibility on the waters made the rescue operation difficult and could have been easily spotted with reflective colour of the life jacket it was worn.
Contacted, spokesman of NNS Soroh, Lt. Commander, Ola Babatunde, confirmed the recovery of the corpse of the Naval rating but declined to make further comment.