Two drown in Portland within a week

PORTLAND, Jamaica – Fifty-year-old Junior Johnson, a contractor of Harbour Heights in St Andrew, on Sunday became the second drowning victim in Portland within a week.

Johnson drowned at Panton’s Hope where he went swimming and encountered difficulties.

Reports are that Johnson along with three others went swimming about 10:00 am when the current became overpowering and two of the group left the sea.

The remaining two, Jonhson and another man identified as Glenford Pennington, were pulled away by the strong current.

Pennington was rescued by local fisherman but Johnson was pulled under.

The Port Antonio Marine Police and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard were called and they along with local divers recovered Johnson’s body about 3:30 pm.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday Morris Coke an employee at the Port Antonio High School drowned when he went diving.

Everard Owen