A 34-year-old fisherman died this weekend in Kribi, in the South region, after an accidental fall at sea. The body of Keller Gilain was recovered near the beach located after the bilingual high school, not far from the former Kribi Plaza hotel.
According to testimonies, Keller Gilain was returning from a fishing trip with a colleague. The two men reportedly stopped at Londji beach before resuming their journey to the Mboamanga landing stage. It was during this journey that the tragedy occurred.
While on board the pirogue, Keller Gilain reportedly fell asleep. At Ngoye Nzami, he lost his balance while getting up, falling into the water. His colleague, who was busy stabilizing the boat and managing the engine, was unable to intervene in time to help him.
The emergency services, alerted, immediately began searching, but without success at first. Keller Gilain's body was only found the next day. The body was taken to the morgue of the Kribi Regional Annex Hospital, pending the usual formalities.
This tragic incident highlights the risks faced by fishermen in the region. Working conditions at sea can be dangerous, and accidents are unfortunately frequent. In February 2024, another unidentified body was found on Ngoye beach, raising concerns about the safety of Kribi's beaches. In 2021, two fishermen went missing at sea.
Caution and respect for safety instructions are essential to avoid such tragedies. Local authorities could consider strengthening safety measures for fishermen and sea users, in particular by improving the signage of dangerous areas and ensuring an increased presence of marine rescue services. Increased awareness of the risks associated with fishing could also help reduce the number of accidents. The sea, a source of life and income for many families, can also be ruthless.
