Heart failure killed diver in MV Barima salvage operation -PME
November 11 2026
A 66-year-old Venezuelan national who died while participating in the salvage operation involving the sunken MV Barima suffered heart failure, according to a post-mortem examination conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
The man, identified as Luis Martinez, died after reportedly failing to resurface while diving in the Essequibo River, approximately 10 nautical miles off the coast of Anna Regina.
Martinez was retrieved from the water on Wednesday, October 28, after crew members became concerned when he remained submerged for approximately 20 minutes.
According to information previously obtained by BIG Smith News Watch, Martinez had been hired by another company involved in efforts to refloat the MV Barima.
Reports indicated that Martinez and several other persons departed the Transport and Harbours wharf at Stabroek at approximately 17:14hrs on October 28 aboard a vessel heading to the wreck site.
Upon arrival, Martinez entered the water to conduct diving operations. However, after he failed to resurface, crew members used a rope attached to him to pull him back onto the vessel.
He was reportedly found motionless and frothing at the mouth.
The crew subsequently transported him to the Stabroek Wharf, where ambulance personnel were summoned. He was pronounced dead at approximately 02:30hrs on Thursday, October 29.
No marks of violence were reportedly observed on his body.
Martinez’s death occurred during ongoing efforts to address the wreckage of the 87-year-old MV Barima, which sank on July 18, 2026, while transporting passengers to Port Kaituma.
The disaster triggered a major search-and-rescue operation, with the figures previously provided indicating 73 bodies recovered, 79 people rescued and approximately 30 others missing.
