A 3 day search for a missing raft captain and a male toddler has ended in tragedy after their bodies were recovered from the Martha Brae River in Trelawny this afternoon (Aug 23).

Deputy Superintendent of Police Winston Milton said the 2 bodies were found sometime after 1 o’clock.

He said local divers assisted members of the Jamaica defence force coast guard in the search and recovery efforts.

Dead are 60 year old raft captain Llewellyn Reid, also known as Jagga Bagga of Trelawny, and 5 year old Jace Jones of Massachusetts, United States.

The boy is a grandson of Reid’s close friend, who recently returned to Jamaica with his family on vacation.

On Tuesday August 21, Jones and 2 other children were given a complementary raft ride by reid.

Jones reportedly fell off the raft and the captain dived in to try to rescue him, but both later disappeared under the murky waters of the Martha Brae River.

Meantime, DSP Milton said the police chaplaincy unit is making arrangements to offer support and counselling to the 2 grieving families.

And, according to reports in US media, the mother of the child is expected to fly to Jamaica today.