Body of man washed away in Wag Water River found after 16 days

Sixteen days after 25-year-old Omar Skyers was washed away by the Wag Water River at Castleton in St Mary, his body was found at a river in Broadgate in the parish.

The discovery was reportedly made by a resident who saw a body floating in an area of Broadgate known as Thousand Pen on Saturday.

Skyers and a female friend, 19-year-old Chrisan Steele, reportedly went swimming on September 12 following a visit to Castleton, when they were swept away by rushing waters caused by heavy rains. 

Steele's body was recovered by a search team on the morning of September 14 in the Flint River area of Castleton. 

Member of Parliament for South East St Mary, Dr Norman Dunn told The Gleaner a short while ago that authorities are now removing the Skyers' body from the river.

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"It is a sad period for the family of the deceased, however, they have now gotten closure," said Dunn.

"It has been more than two weeks since Skyers was swept away and there was uncertainty as to what might have happened. But today, sad to say, his body was spotted. I have to commend the entire search team for their effort, even though the outcome was not what we wanted," he added.

- Gareth Davis