A policeman is thought to have tragically drowned trying to escape from a sinking canoe in the River Lom.

Tuesday’s grave misfortune, which claimed the life of Constable Ngoumou, is a massive blow to the Légion de Gendarmerie Nationale de l’Est, who has just lost an officer deployed in the security of mining sites in the borough of Ngoura.

Well-informed sources say he drowned in the river alongside his assigned station, Fametal, a company which deals in gold on the banks of the river.

To be more precise, in the Messeri village, in the district of Ngoura, not far from villages and Kongolo Namboui, through which land access is possible. These two villages are located more than 70 km from the city of Betar-Oya.

According to Simon Etsil, sub-prefect of Bétaré-Oya, the motor to the constable’s boat had stopped working mid sail and he decided to jump in the water and swim to dry land.

While other passengers say the boatman would have given the orders to everybody not to move even in the midst of the waters of Lom.

A source of the Cameroon-Tribune said: "The policeman reportedly tried to rally to the nearest shore in vain. This has been fatal. He wore his dress, his rangers and his gun. The search that ensued helped recover his body, at the end of yesterday. But his gun was not found.

Once alerted, the commander the Légion de Gendarmerie Nationale de l’Est,has made the trip to Bétaré-Oya to organize the draft of the constables body.