An 18-year-old labourer at Forrester Lumber and Building Complex is battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after a co-worker turned on a cement mixer unaware that he was inside the machine cleaning it.
At 15:45 hrs yesterday, Doctor Smart from the Leonora Cottage Hospital called the Leonora Police Station and requested a rank to come to the said institution, in relation to an injuried patient who gave his particulars as Ricardo Nandlall, an 18-year-old labourer of Lot 46 South De Kinderen Line-Top, West Coast Demerara.
On arrival, Ricardo Nandlall was contacted in the Accident and Emergency Department where he was observed to have an injury across his abdomen with his intestines protruding. An officer made attempts to interview him but he was not responsive.
As a result, the ranks proceeded to his worksite which is the Forrester Lumber and Building Complex located at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. On arrival there, contact was made with the proprietor, 47-year-old Andrew Forrester.
He was interviewed by a cop and he related that Nandlall went into the cement mixer to have same cleaned and in the process, a 22-year-old ‘Mixer Operator’ was unaware that Nandlall was inside and he turned on the machine.
As a result, several co-workers went to Nandlall’s assistance and pulled him out of the mixer. They then placed him into motor pick-up # GPP 7825, which was driven by a co-worker and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital.
The 22-year-old co-worker who turned on the cement mixer was detained by the police. Commander Errol Watts has indicated that the co-worker remains in custody, on the prisoner bench, as they await updates on the victim. The Commander said he remains in custody given that his actions were not malicious but suspected to be that of negligence.
The entire scene was photographed. Several CCTV cameras were seen inside and outside the Forrester Complex.
