Drowned raft captain loved the Martha Brae

Lewellyn Reid, the raft captain who drowned in the Martha Brae River in Trelawny after he reportedly jumped in to save a young boy he was transporting, was buried on Sunday.

Reid, who was born on December 23, 1952, died on August 23, 2018. His body, and that of the boy, Jace Jones, was fished from the water three days after they fell in.

At his funeral, held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Falmouth, one of his fellow raft captains suggested that Reid, also called 'Jagabaga', was a constant drinker.

"Jagabaga had three best friends; J, Wray and Nephew. Sometimes he got the better of his friends, but at other times they got the better of him," a fellow raft captain said as he paid tribute to Reid.

Naomi Mitchell-Martin, Reid's sister, eulogised him as a "jovial, kind and loving person who made people laugh.

"There was never a dull moment in his company. The family called him 'Lugs', as he fitted in every needed situation. His six children, four boys and two girls, will miss him dearly. He took care of their needs and gave them fatherly love," she said.

Mitchell-Martin said it was shocking to hear that her brother had drowned.

"He has been swimming in the river from he was a boy. For over 40 years, he was a raft captain. When the river was in spate and brought down all kinds of debris, it was him that they relied on to clean the river so that rafting could continue," she said.

Meanwhile, Reid was also remembered as a lover of dominoes. He played the game and was also a referee.

"He was one who was very disciplined. We play code domino, but he would not allow you to get away with anything but what the rules allowed," Alex Spence said.

Reid's body was buried at the Martha Brae Cemetery.