Eighteen-year-old Faizel D. disappeared in depth this morning while swimming with two other friends at around 10:30 near the Moengomarkt on the Cottica River in the Marowijne district. Faizel D. has disappeared into the depth of the river for reasons unknown.
24-year-old Jonathan Kartowidjojo tells Suriname Herald that he went to the Cottica River for a swim with the missing boy and another friend. At one point he swam to the middle of the river, with Faizel and the other friend behind him. At one point he saw that Faizel was panicking in the water. His other friend couldn’t do much because he can’t swim either, Kartowidjojo says.
When I returned he had already slipped away. I then went back to seek help. According to Kartowidjojo, the third boy also does not know what to do and could not help to save Faizel from his plight. He indicates that his friend Faizel had already fallen into the depths when he arrived at their place. “If I had someone else, we could certainly save him. If I knew it would come to that, we would certainly not have done this ”, Kartowidjojo sighs.
The chairman of Moengo’s local council, David Djendje, who is also on site, says in a response to Suriname Herald that the police and fire brigade are currently searching for the missing boy. He calls this a sad situation for the child’s parents, but also for the entire community. There is a lockdown and everyone was at home until we were confronted with this, says Djendje.
He says very carefully that in all likelihood the boys secretly went to the river for a swim. People will think there is no lockdown when there is not. “They are out of sight of their parents and the police secretly went for a swim there. Moengo is all in an uproar. The search will be continued ”, says Djendje.
District commissioner Olivia Domini of Marowijne-Southwest is also on site to orientate.
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