Drowned teen’s family recall difficult months before recovery of body

Relatives and friends of O’Linn Nauyoma, who drowned in Lake Guinas near Tsumeb in September last year, gathered at Nauyoma’s homestead at the village Ohalushu in the Ohangwena region on Saturday to lay him to rest.

O’Linn (16) drowned while on a school tour.

German diver Tom Baier and Namibian diver Chris Steenkamp retrieved his remains from Lake Guinas last month.

O’Linn’s brother Herman Nauyoma says his family has now found closure and their sleepless nights will come to an end.

“It was very hard for us as a family for the past four months since he drowned,” he said.

Etosha Secondary School headboy Mathias Martin described Nauyoma as polite and humble.

“I was very close to him. I wish I could have told him how kind he was,” Martin said.

O’Linn’s father, Cornelius Nauyoma, said his son was on his mind all of the time that his body was missing, and he just wanted to give his son a decent burial after his body was retrieved from the lake.

“I thank the education ministry and everyone who made an effort to retrieve my son’s remains,” he said.

Oshikoto police commander commissioner Theopoline Nashikaku said the police intend to have the lake declared as a danger zone.

“We will be putting measures in place to indicate the distance whereby those visiting the lake will not be allowed to get too close,” she said.