After single-handedly rescuing a total of 13 passengers from a boat accident, a 36-year-old contractor identified as Joe Blankson, has lost his life during the boat accident that claimed the lives of six persons on Saturday.
Residents of Bakana area of Rivers State have been left grief stricken after the proud father took on the heroic move but lost his life amongst five others
It was gathered that it was while the father of two was trying to rescue the 14th person that he died in the river and his body was retrieved a day after. A survivor had blamed the boat accident on the speed of the boat captain.
The survivor also attributed the tragedy to the dirt on the waterways. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, insisted that one person died in the accident and not six.
He added that Blankson might have died of exhaustion after rescuing more than 12 persons.
He said;
“The report we got from the police in that area was that only one person died.
Also, the man that died had rescued more than 12 persons and could have died out of exhaustion. They were 24 and 23 were rescued. The only person that died has been found and he was buried the day he was found.”
The reports which have gone viral has prompted comments from Nigerians far and wide who prayed for his family.