Hermitage body found
published: Wednesday | February 15, 2006

Rafters tow the body of 19-year-old Benton Barnes in the Hermitage Dam yesterday. Mr. Barnes drowned in the dam where he went swimming with two friends on Saturday. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

THE BODY of 19-year-old Benton Barnes was recovered yesterday afternoon from the Hermitage Dam in St. Andrew, three days after he drowned there.

Howard Newell, water production manager at the NWC, yesterday assured the public that the body would not affect the quality of water. He also emphasised that "individuals should stay away from the dam, as it is a prohibited area". According to Mr. Newell, all sporting activity, including swimming, was forbidden. He admitted though that NWC did not have the resources to patrol the dam.

Mr. Newell yesterday said the company had a thorough purification process and analysed samples every hour.