The search for a young couple from Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara, concluded tragically on Tuesday afternoon when their bodies were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean. The couple, 20-year-old Lyodisa “Loyda” Waldron, who was six months pregnant, and 31-year-old Andri “Bobby” Francis, had been missing since Sunday afternoon after being pulled under by a strong undertow.
The recovery operation was conducted by a civilian search party using private fishing vessels. The families of the couple expressed their grief over the loss, which has brought a painful closure to their search. The incident occurred around 2:00 PM on Sunday when Waldron and Francis were wading in shallow waters. A sudden change in the tidal cycle created a powerful rip current, leading to the drowning.
Witnesses reported that Waldron began to struggle in the water and called for help. Francis attempted to rescue her but was also overwhelmed by the current. The search for the couple initially involved the Guyana Police Force and local residents, but the families later sought assistance from Azruddin Mohamed, the Leader of the Opposition, who financed local fishermen to conduct deep-water searches.
During a live broadcast from the Unity shoreline, Mohamed criticized the lack of state emergency response, stating that the family had to reach out for help. He noted the absence of Coast Guard and police presence during the search efforts.
The incident has raised concerns about coastal safety at Unity Beach, a popular destination that has become increasingly hazardous due to unmonitored sandbars. Local stakeholders are calling for a review of the state’s maritime rescue framework, questioning the preparedness of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.
The bodies were processed by divisional detectives and crime scene technicians before being transported to a mortuary for post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of death.
Source: hgptv.com
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