In a tragic turn of events, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard successfully recovered the body of a young boy from the Rio Cobre river in St. Catherine parish on Saturday afternoon. The operation unfolded after emergency responders received reports that a minor had disappeared in the waterway earlier that day.
According to official statements from the JDF, their specialized dive team from the 2nd District mobilized quickly upon receiving the search request. The divers commenced their operation in the designated area where the child was last seen entering the river around 2:00 PM local time.
After nearly four hours of intensive search efforts, the Coast Guard personnel located and retrieved the deceased child’s body at approximately 5:50 PM. The recovery occurred in the same section of the river where the boy was initially reported missing, bringing a sorrowful conclusion to the search operation.
The Jamaica Defence Force confirmed that the recovered remains were formally transferred to the Spanish Town Police Department, which will oversee the subsequent investigation and procedures. Law enforcement authorities have initiated standard protocols for such incidents, though specific details regarding the circumstances leading to the tragedy remain under investigation.
In an official communiqué, the JDF expressed profound sympathy and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family members, acknowledging the devastating loss they are enduring. The incident has highlighted the ongoing water safety concerns in the region, particularly during the current period when seasonal rains have increased river currents throughout Jamaica.