Luis Avilio Sarmiento Martinez, the Venezuelan diver who became unresponsive during work to salvage the MV Barima, died of heart failure, police said, citing the findings of a post-mortem examination.
Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh conducted the examination on November 4 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour. Police said Martinez’s 30-year-old son identified the body, which was subsequently handed over to relatives for burial.
In their latest statement, police described Martinez, 66, as a diver employed by BK International. The company had previously said that he was a licensed diver contracted through Salvamentos del Caribe C.A. BK said a full-time doctor was aboard and reported at the time that Martinez had apparently suffered a heart attack. The police update gave heart failure as the cause of death and provided no further medical details.
As reported before on November 1, Martinez entered the water on October 28 at the wreck site, about 10 nautical miles off Anna Regina. Police said crew members pulled him from the water after he failed to resurface after about 20 minutes. He was taken to the Transport and Harbours Department wharf at Stabroek, Georgetown, where a doctor pronounced him dead at about 2.30 am on October 29. Police first disclosed the incident on November 1.
The PNCR/APNU called for an independent investigation into the death, asking what emergency medical arrangements were in place and why Martinez was taken to Georgetown rather than to a health facility in Region Two. BK said a doctor was aboard but gave no details of any treatment administered or of the evacuation arrangements.
BK International was awarded a $1.034 billion contract on October 6 to salvage the ferry off Devonshire Castle Flats, Essequibo Coast. The published award record gave no deadline for mobilisation or recovery. Relatives have repeatedly called for the wreck to be raised to recover the remains of those still missing and preserve evidence for the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18 sinking.
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