A 31-year- old footballer, Earnest Peremobowei, has drowned in the raging flood at Yenebelebiri community in Yenagoa Local Council of Bayelsa State. The deceased’s corpse was recovered two days after his body was swept under the canal and has since been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) morgue, in Yenagoa.
Peremobowei, a well-known footballer, had won laurels with local teams, including Internal Grace Football Club, which emerged over all winner of the last State Governor’s Cup, tagged: ‘Prosperity Cup’. He was also voted the third-highest goal scorer in the tournament.
The footballer was on his way to Yenebelebiri community located across the state capital in company of five other persons when their boat smashed into the government Jetty Barge and lost control. He lost his life after saving five other occupants of the boat.
The younger brother to the deceased, Komboye, who confirmed the incident, said the brother died of exhaustion after saving five occupants of the boat.
“He was in company of five other persons who were trying to cross over to the Yenebelebiri community to check the impact of the flood on their houses and properties.
“Due to the high current of the flood, they lost control of the boat when they smashed into the Government Jetty Barge. He was the only one that knew how to swim and he rescued the five persons with him. I think he was exhausted and was washed away by the current,” he said. Komboye also confirmed the last person rescued by his late brother is still at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for treatment.
He lamented that the loss of his brother to the rampaging flood is painful and a huge loss to his wife and two children, aged 10 months (girl) and three years (boy). He appealed to Bayelsa State government to assist the deceased’s children and the family at the trying moment.
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