Teen drowns at Mermaid Pool

According to reports, Quintan Barnett, of Roy Joseph Housing Settlement, San Fernando and a group of friends went to Mermaid Pool, Mathura for an outing on Tuesday.

The pool which is over 25 feet deep had become a bit murky after some heavy rainfall a day earlier. At about 2 pm, while in the water,Barnett began experiencing difficulties and called for assistance but, by the time his friends attempted to rescue him he had disappeared under water.

Residents of the area were alerted and they along with others attempted to retrieve the body with little success.

However, later on Tuesday, residents reported seeing the body stuck between some rocks and they alerted the Coast Guard who returned to the scene yesterday in an attempt to retrieve the body.

Police investigators told Newsday several persons have drowned at Mermaid Pool in the past and they urged members of the public who enter the pool to exercise the necessary precautions if they are not good swimmers.

The body was retrieved by Coast Guard officers about 9.30 am yesterday and ordered removed to the Sangre Grande mortuary.

Sgt Ramnkissoon of the Mathura Police Station is continuing enquiries.