Orealla River Ambulance Captain died of a heart attack – PME

The Captain of the Orealla River Ambulance, who was discovered motionless in the vessel after it crashed into trees along the Corentyne River bank on Saturday last, died of a heart attack.

This is according to an autopsy conducted on the body on Monday by Government Pathologist Dr Vivevakanand Bridgemohan.

According to the pathologist, the heart attack would have led to the boat captain becoming unconscious, thus causing him to lose control of vessel.

On Saturday, Glen DeVair called ‘Shiko’, 65, the previous Toshao of Orealla and Siparuta was pronounced dead after being pulled from the river ambulance which was on its way back to Orealla after taking a patient from the community to Corriverton, some 50 miles away.

The river ambulance which also was carrying a nurse; 29-year-old Shunika Williams, was discovered at the side of the river about ten minutes drive from Orealla.

DeVair and Williams, who was three months pregnant and has since lost the baby, had left Corriverton just before daylight but never arrived at Orealla.

The boat crashed into a tree along the river bank, knocking the nurse, who was asleep at the time, unconscious.

Williams, who was subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, is said to be in a stable condition.

DeVair served at Toshao for the twin village community situated up the Corentyne River in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) from May 2021 to May 2024.

In June 2024, the riverine communities of Orealla-Siparuta received the $14.5 million new water ambulance.

According to reports, following the impact on Saturday, when the boat was discovered, the steering wheel was disconnected, with all of the wires severed.

Several boat operators reportedly passed the river ambulance in the corner of river, one being DeVair’s son. He said he pulled over and called out but got no response and was of the opinion that his father had taken another boat to go home.

However, when he arrived at Corriverton, more than an hour later, he called home to find out if his father was there and was told that he did not arrive. It was then that he reported witnessing the ambulance among a clump of bushes about 10 minutes away from Orealla.

It took rescuers about two hours before they could organise a team to go to the scene.

DeVair was found in the back of the boat lying on the floor.