Three families were thrown into mourning over the weekend, after three people drowned in two separate incidents at Maracas Beach and Matura.
In the first incident around 3.30 pm, a picnic by members of New Grant family ended in tragedy when one of them drowned while trying to save his son and cousin, who got into difficulties while bathing in the Mermaid Pool at Thomas Trace, Matura.
David Seegobin, 47, of Tabaquite Road, New Grant, disappeared under water and never resurfaced after he attempted to help his son Simeon, 18, and cousin Daniel Ramcharan, 13, who both got into difficulty while swimming.
The family had gone on a picnic to the pool and had had a day full of fun and excitement until the two boys got into difficulty and Seegobin dived into the pool to rescue them. While he was successful in saving the boys, he himself got into difficulty and disappeared under water.
The two boys were both taken to Sangre Grande Hospital where they received medical treatment and discharged.
Villagers, tour guides and others who were also at the pool joined the search for Seegobin and his body was found a few hours later.
The family made a report to the Matura Police Station and Cpl Stafford and PC Singh responded. District Medical Officer Dr. Bissoon viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Sangre Grande mortuary.
Speaking at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, Seegobin’s sister-in-law, Dinah Ramcharan, said he died hero, noting they two relatives “dropped” in a depression in the pool.
“All three of them began sinking and he (Seegobin) saw his son and nephew going under and pushed his son out of the water. I saw him take a deep breath and pushed his son out and then he went under the water and didn’t come back up,” Ramcharan said.
She added that on seeing this she tried to get some of Seegobin’s friends to help them but it was too late.
“The Government should put up signs or have Coast Guard or put a red flag to let people know it have a depression there, which is about 60 feet they said, because nobody knew. There was no sign warning the public about not going in that section. It is a place where people hike often,” Ramcharan said.
She added that Seegobin was a kind God-fearing person and was a comedian who would always put a smile on everyone’s face wherever he went.
“He was a great provider to his family and excellent father to his children,” she said.
Cpl Stafford of Matura Police Station is continuing investigation. In the other incident, a family outing at Maracas Beach ended in tragedy after two people drowned while frolicking in the water.
According to police reports, Sandra Singh, 53, of Pluck Road, Penal, and Premchand Ramlal, 50, of Fyzabad were with a group who went in the water shortly after eating around 7.30 pm. The group got into difficulties and had to be fished out by villagers and an off-duty member of the Coast Guard. Singh, who was rescued by the Coast Guardsman, was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where she died. Ramlal’s body washed ashore around 10.30 pm.
RALPH BANWARIE