Bodies of missing raft captain, 5yo boy found

Sixty-two-year-old raft captain Llewellyn Reid and 5-year-old Jace Jones, who went missing along the Martha Brae River in Trelawny on Tuesday, have been found dead.

The bodies washed up along the banks of the river about 2 o’ clock this afternoon and were taken to land by residents who had been searching for the two.

The police were called in and the area cordoned off.

The bodies are to be taken to the morgue for a post-mortem.

Rafters at the scene expressed surprise at the death of Reid, who they said had been a raftman for 40 years.

Reid, who was from the community of Zion in the parish, was described as a dependable, trustworthy and skilled raft captain.

The young boy’s father, Jermaine, who was also at the scene, told The Gleaner that the family is devastated by the loss.

Jermaine, who is a Jamaican, said the family was expected to end their vacation today and return home to Massachusetts in the United States.

It is reported that on Tuesday afternoon Jace and his two siblings, ages nine and 11, were rafting with Reid along the popular attraction when he fell into the water.

Reid jumped into the river and reportedly managed to rescue the boy and placed him on his back.

Reid, while attempting to swim back to the raft, reportedly got into difficulties and he and the 5-year-old became submerged.

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