Adanma Luke, the producer of the film that Junior Pope was working on before his tragic drowning, has stated that the late actor was offered a life jacket but refused it.
Luke has faced intense criticism following the deaths of actor Junior Pope and three others when their boat overturned on the Anam River in Anambra State as they were returning from the set of her film, ‘The Other Side Of Life.’
In her first public statement since the incident, Adanma Luke asserted that Junior Pope was given a life jacket but declined it due to its dirty condition.
In a video message posted on her Instagram account, she explained, “Both my director and Emeka, the DOP, were wearing life jackets. There was still one life jacket left, but I’m not sure who took it.
“My production manager mentioned that they found some life jackets hanging and took them. He even suggested to the late Friday to offer one to Junior Pope, but Junior Pope declined it because it was dirty.
“Those wearing life jackets survived the boat accident. They also told me that while they were in the water trying to survive, Junior Pope was there too, asking, ‘Is everybody okay? Hope everybody is fine?’ They even threw a gallon to him to hold onto, which he did, but then suddenly, they couldn’t see him anymore.
“When they got out of the water, they realized he was no longer there. They said divers arrived and rescued some of them, while other divers were still trying to save the others.
“I asked what could have caused this accident? They said they weren’t sure, but TC was standing on the speed boat ringing the bell.”