A quiet Saturday afternoon turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for a family in Buchanan when 16-year-old Gibson Robert drowned in the Benson River.
Gibson and his brother, Alphanso Johnson, left their home Pearchuzohn to the river in search of “kissmeat,” a local delicacy. Their outing was meant to be a simple activity of picking kissmeat from the river bed, but it took a devastating turn.
According to Alphanso, after they found some “kissmeat,” Gibson expressed a desire to swim. Despite Alphanso’s warnings, Gibson went into the water. Moments later, Alphanso lost sight of his brother.
A frantic search ensued, with community members joining in. Sadly, their efforts led to the discovery of Gibson’s lifeless body later that evening.
Adding to the family’s grief was the response from authorities as the community leader Matthew Cooke contacted the Crime Services Division (CSD) of the police to report the incident. However, the officers reportedly declined to respond, citing that it was outside their working hours.
The family waited over two hours for a response that never came before deciding to bring Gibson’s body home themselves.
This tragic incident raises concerns about the accessibility of emergency services and the importance of timely intervention in situations that could bring closure to grieving families.
Source: Magic FM
