Coast Guard recovers one body

An unidentified homeless couple was washed away by raging flood waters at East Dry River around 7 pm on Thursday. The body of the female victim was recovered in a mangrove at Sea Lots around 9 am yesterday by Coast Guard officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Nelson. Reports revealed that around 7 pm on Thursday, the homeless couple were seen asleep under a bridge at the East Dry river. Another homeless person reported to the police that following heavy showers, the East Dry River flooded and he looked on as the couple was washed away by the flood waters. An attempt to save the two proved futile and officers of the Besson Street Police Station were alerted. The officers contacted the Coast Guard and a one-hour search was carried out for the two victims.

Coast Guard officers told Newsday that they combed the sea around Sea Lots on Thursday to locate the body but to no avail. Yesterday, the search continued in the same area, and the body of a woman believed to be in her late thirties was discovered in a mangrove. The body was removed to an area close to the National Flour Mills and viewed by  District Medical Officer Dr Clarke. It was later ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. Coast Guard officers also combed the entire area at Sea Lots yesterday with the hope of locating the second body. They revealed that it may take at least three days before the body surfaces. They said that the search will continue today. At East Dry River yesterday, several homeless persons who live under the bridge expressed sadness over the death of the two. They said that the victims were asleep when they were washed away by the flood waters. No one could identify the couple and described them as being slim built and in their late 30s. Investigations are continuing.