‘Hero’ lifeguard buried

HAILED as a hero, lifesaver, best friend and beloved brother, friends and relatives did not spare praises as they bade a teary farewell to Mayaro lifeguard Andy Seeraj yesterday.

There was nary a dry eye as the hundreds who turned out for the funeral service at the Seeraj residence, St Ann’s Village, Mayaro, lamented that Seeraj had been snatched away in the prime of his life. And it seemed that even the heavens cried as a ten-minute downpour fell on mourners moments before the casket was to be taken in a street procession for internment at the nearby Radix Village Public Cemetery. The few villagers who were not in attendance at the large and emotional service came out of their homes along the Mayaro/ Guayaguayare Road and bowed in reverence as the solemn procession passed by.

Seeraj, 32, died on Sunday at the Mayaro District Hospital, hours after he was hit by a fishing boat while swimming  at the Church Road beach. He reportedly stayed underwater for almost half an hour before a seine (net) was used to fish his body from the depths. Yesterday, his sisters, Wendy, Debbie and Pinky, would not leave the side of the casket during the three-hour service. The three siblings flanked the casket speaking their last thoughts to him, caressing his face and shedding tears unashamedly. Their mother, Sookrajee, kept mournful vigil in the background among other mourners. But as she viewed her only son’s body for the last time, relatives held onto her tightly to support her as she screamed out for her son. Seeraj’s colleagues in the lifeguard service, led by senior lifeguard Yusuff Ali, bore the casket through the street for their fallen colleague’s last journey along the Mayaro/ Guayaguayare Main Road towards the cemetery.

Lifeguard comrades from the Maracas/Las Cuevas district also made the journey to pay their respects, and joined in the procession. A representative from the Ministry of Sport was also present to express condolences to the Seeraj family. Wendy eulogised her brother as a multi-talented person, who gave his life, love and laughter to the Mayaro community, especially to those whom he risked his life to save in the Mayaro waters. “He was always smiling,” she cried, “and he died with that smile.” She also made mention of the special relationship he held with his pet dog, Tiger. “I am sure even Tiger is still in his heart today. That was the kind of person he was — kindhearted to everything and everybody.”