A fishing expedition on the Godineau River, La Romaine ended in tragedy on Saturday night as a father-to-be drowned after the pirogue he was in capsized after colliding with concrete pillar.
Vinod Lyndon Madho will never be able to celebrate the birth of his first child, expected in February.Police said around 10 pm, Madho, 33, of Lalbeharry Trace, Debe was in a pirogue with his relatives, Vasu Sookdeo, 29, and Suraj Katwaroo, 50, when it overturned along the Godineau River, where highway construction works are being done.
All three men were thrown off but Madho became stuck under the vessel.His body was fished out of the river by Katwaroo a short while later but by then he was already dead.Speaking at his family's home yesterday, Madho's father, Jainarine, said his son was eagerly awaiting the birth of his baby.
"His said that Madho could not swim and before he left on the trip he insisted on wearing a life jacket.Lyndon worked as a labourer with the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation and had no experience at sea.
"He said he is not going on any boat if he doesn't have a life jacket," Jainarine recalled, adding the three men wanted a little recreation so they went to fish at the Gulf of Paria. However, around 4 pm, the pirogue stalled off the Point Lisas jetty.
"They had to wait for help and eventually a couple hours later another boat came to tow them in," Jainarine said.
He said it was dark and as the pirogue was being pulled through the Godineau Channel a strong current began pushing it.
"The pirogue hit one of the pillars where the new highway is being constructed and it overturned, throwing all of them in the water," Jainarine said.
For several minutes, Katwaroo and Sookdeo searched the waters hoping to find Madho, who was wearing a reflective life jacket. It was only later on they realised that Madho was trapped under the boat.
"We don't know if he got a lash when the boat capsised. We have to wait until they examine his body to know this," Jainarine said. Both survivors were too traumatised to speak to the media yesterday.
An autopsy has been scheduled to be done on Madho's body today at the San Fernando mortuary.
Be vigilant says Coast Guard
Contacted last night, Lt Commander of the T&T Coast Guard, Kirk John-Baptiste called on fishermen to exercise caution when going out to sea. He said it was important to always wear a life jacket.
"It is also recommended that you take extra water out to sea and have a flashlight or signal flare handy, so if you get lost at sea you can signal to a vessel," Jean-Baptiste said.
"Tell people on land where you are going and go where you say you are going. Listen to the weather precautions for rough seas and strange tides so you know how to operate."
He also advised that all vessels be equipped with a VHF marine radio tuned in to channel 16.
"Be vigilant about wave action or strange vessels approaching you while fishing. Night time fishing is always a risk so make sure that your vessel is properly lit so that other people in other vessels can see you," Jean-Baptiste said.
Meanwhile, San Fernando fisherman Dhanraj Ramkissoon said the swells were big on Saturday night when Madho died.
"It is not unusual but coming to Christmas we normally see more swells because of the spring tide. People have to be more cautious around this time," Ramkissoon said. He said that the area where Madho drowned had light fixtures.
"That construction zone from the land is well lit but maybe they need to install some more light fixtures," Ramkissoon said.
The Meteorological Office had no rough sea bulletin for Saturday night.