Heroic TT fisherman

FOUR South American men who were stranded at sea when their boat broke down were rescued by a local fisherman off the Mayaro coast on Wednesday night.

Boat captain O’Neil Farrar, 39, of Paramaribo, Suriname; his brother Phillip Farrar, 34, also of Paramaribo, Suriname; Diemys Carlos Rodriguez, 28, of Brazil, and Holman Porras, 38, of Venezuela, told police they had drifted to Mayaro from Guyana after their 50-foot vessel began experiencing difficulties eight days ago. Police said they were in good health but were worried over food supplies running short.

Mayaro fisherman Dominic Bengochea was fishing on his fibreglass fishing boat off the East coast when the four South Americans flagged him down and called out for help. Bengochea, of Lewis and Sucre Streets, Mayaro, told police he helped them anchor the boat and brought them to Mayaro aboard his boat. Mayaro police said they interviewed the four men and learnt that they were headed to Guyana to transport machinery to Essequibo. They told police they left Suriname on April 16 aboard their vessel “Berto” and were nearing Guyanese shores when their propeller broke. The South Americans said they had been drifting in the Atlantic Ocean since then without any sign of help or rescue, until they saw Bengochea.

After interviewing the men, police and immigration officials provided temporary immigration documents for them to remain in the country for the next few days until they have repaired their boat and are able to set sail. The four South Americans have contacted their relatives, police said, and are being wired money to pay for the repairs and food and lodging. The men spent Wednesday night at the Mayaro Police Station but were said to have found accommodations last night.

PC Doodnath Jankee is investigating.