Schoolboy, 14, feared drowned after friends toss him in river

Fourteen-year-old Harmony Secondary School student Omar Mitchell is feared drowned after disappearing in the Demerara River in the vicinity of the “old sawmill” yesterday.
Reports indicate that Mitchell, of Half Mile, Wismar, was reportedly thrown into the water by some of his friends, after he told them that he couldn’t swim.
The lads were at the riverside near the Old Hamilton sawmill, and the friends were allegedly playing ‘throw to throw.” The friends are in custody.
The second form student, who is said to be a quiet child, left school at around 11:10 because all schools in the community were closed for the half day due to a GTU meeting.
Another youth told Kaieteur News that Mitchell was assisting the boy’s brother with a science project.
“He de helping me small brother with he science project, when me brother after me, who is eighteen, come and tell them leh dey go and swim.”
According to the neighbour, Mitchell was sitting in the corner because he told them he couldn’t swim but the friends “four hand” him and threw him in the river.
Mitchell reportedly disappeared from view, after he was tossed into the water.
The neighbour claimed his brother ran away because he couldn’t swim either.
Several persons converged on the scene after word of the tragedy spread, with many remaining after nightfall in the hope that the boy would be found. However, there was no such luck.