The mechanic who caught fire in the Frenchman Hill area, Upper Essequibo River Road, some two weeks ago while attempting to discharge fuel from a tanker has succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Shawhinshaw Ally, called “Imty”, 35, of Plot H22 Left Bank Tabatinga Drive, Lethem, reportedly caught fire on June 23.
Guyana Times International understands that on June 23, Ally, along with a porter called “Jerry”, left Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and was heading for Lethem.
However, upon arrival at the Frenchman Trail, it was discovered that the trail was blocked owing to a broken bridge.
After several days had elapsed without the bridge being fixed, Ally, along with two other lorry drivers, decided to use another route through the Frenchman Hill area.
The route, however, was steep which caused Ally to encounter yet another setback. He and other persons had to use ropes in order to pull the fuel tanker truck with licence plate GRR 1622 over a hill.
While being pulled with a wire rope, the motor lorry toppled down the hill falling onto its side.
Reports are after making contact with his employer, Marlon Johnson, Ally was instructed to wait for his arrival.
When Johnson arrived at the scene of the accident, the men decided to discharge the fuel from the tanker into another truck.
However, reports are while discharging the fuel using an electrical fuel pump which was powered by a generator, the pump encountered issues causing Ally to take the hose out from the tanker and put it into a barrel.
While doing so, the mouth of the hose flipped causing fuel to spill onto him and the generator at the same time causing a fire which engulfed Ally.
This publication understands that the man began to scream which caused his colleagues to run to his assistance and attempted to put the fire out.
However, this initially proved futile as Ally’s clothing was covered in gasoline. After some time, the workers managed to douse the flames and they quickly rushed him to the Mabura Health Centre; he was later taken to the Linden Hospital Complex.
While there he was visited by Police ranks to whom he conveyed what had occurred.
The severely burnt man was treated for third-degree burns and later rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he succumbed on Friday last.
On Sunday, his employer refuted claims that there was an explosion.
“While at this time, emotions are high, understandably, we simply ask that there be pursuit of truth in the circumstances of the incident and Imty’s demise. There was no explosion of fuel truck as is alleged, and Imty was questioned by the Police on the incident at the Mabura Hill Health Centre, Linden Hospital and at the Georgetown Public Hospital. I have cooperated fully with the Police in providing information on what occurred, having been present, and have given the names of other eyewitnesses,” the dead man’s employer, Johnson, said in a statement.
The Police visited the scene of the incident and are said to be investigating.
