By Moses J. Dawoe
/Southeast Correspondent
A 40-year-old man identified as Peter Doe has died by drowning in a gold mine in Gbaken, Maryland County, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, while digging for gold under a creek at about 7:00 p.m.
Eyewitnesses said the victim Doe had recently installed a gold-digging machine called “Drake” for mining underwater.
The location had a palm tree and a straight-standing stick, which the victim was undermining to remove dirt for washing.
According to eyewitness accounts, at the beginning of the underwater operation, the palm tree being undermined by the victim began to show signs of falling.
This prompted the assigned safety monitor to raise an alarm and pull the victim out of the water temporarily.
Testimonies further revealed that Doe had forgotten one of the key tools used by the Drake mining machine.
He later informed the focal person—whose responsibility was to monitor and pull miners out of the water during emergencies—about the missing tool.
Meanwhile, Doe met his untimely death when he went underwater to retrieve a key part of the machine.
Unfortunately, the palm tree and the stick collapsed on him, leading to his death.
According to a police report, on May 7, 2025, at approximately 07:00 hours, a call was received from Co-Karluway reporting a drowning incident at the Gbaken Gold Mine.
The victim, a 40-year-old Grebo Liberian and resident of Pleebo, reportedly drowned while diving at the mine.
Police investigators, along with medical personnel and coroner jurors, visited the scene for due process.
He was pronounced dead at the site.
The coroner jurors’ observation report indicated there was no foul play involved.
The deceased’s body was subsequently turned over to the local town’s authority and his family as investigations continue.
