Four dead after alleged toxic fume exposure on ship

February 5 2025

Four men were found dead aboard a cargo vessel docked at a wharf on Water Street, Cummingsburg, on Wednesday evening, sparking an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Police reported that the incident occurred at approximately 18:30 hrs on February 4, 2026. The men, all crew members on the vessel, reportedly collapsed while inspecting a dry space in the engine room located in the lower section of the ship. Preliminary findings suggest they may have been exposed to suspected noxious fumes.

The deceased have been identified as Brandon Deonarine, 18, a seaman of Support, East Bank Demerara; Nerwaine Persaud, 57, a boat captain of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara; Dominic Alexis, 33, a seaman of De Kendren, West Coast Demerara; and Getindra Sanchara, 25, an engineer of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

An alarm was reportedly raised by other crew members, prompting an urgent response from Emergency Medical Technicians and the Guyana Fire Service. The men were removed from the vessel and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

Their bodies are currently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting post-mortem examinations, as investigators work to determine the exact cause of death.

The area around the vessel has been secured, and police have confirmed that investigations remain ongoing. Authorities say further information will be released as the probe continues.