PORTLAND, Jamaica — The man who reportedly drowned at a river in Portland on Monday afternoon has been identified as 20-year-old, Robert Ford, a security officer from Anchovy Land settlement in the parish.

Ford is the second person suspected to have drowned in the parish within a week.

READ: Second person to drown in Portland in a week

The Portland police reports that at about 3:48 pm, Ford and two friends were at the river when they decided to take a swim. It is said that on reaching halfway through the journey, Ford started to complain that he was tired.

He then reportedly started to swim back to shore but was observed to have gone under the water. He did not resurface.

An alarm was made and the lifeguard on duty, as well as civilians, offered assistance but their efforts proved futile.

Further assistance was sought and divers from the Alligator Head Foundation later arrived on the scene. A search of the water was carried out and sometime later the body was recovered.

–          Everard Owen