A STEWARTVILLE, West Coast Demerara family was yesterday thanking their lucky stars and God for sparing the lives of three of its members who were among passengers on the ill-fated Caribbean Airlines aircraft which overshot the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Samuel Eversley, his wife, Maxine, and sister, Odessa, left New York to join those who had arrived from overseas earlier, as well as those living here to participate in two weddings ceremonies, one scheduled for today and another next week.
Ironically, Samuel, who was slated to give away his niece at her wedding today, now sports a cast on his right leg, while his wife, in addition to wearing a neck brace, is also suffering from severe back injuries.
Odessa, meanwhile, has been complaining of pains in the head.
Mrs. Eversley, who has been living in the United States for the past eight years, spoke briefly with the Guyana Chronicle from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as she waited to be fitted with the collar, while her husband was having his foot placed in plaster of Paris.
According to her, when they checked in at JFK for the flight to Guyana at 1400hrs Friday afternoon, they were all assigned Row 10 in Economy Class, which is close to one of the exits.
She said the aircraft made a routine stop at Piarco Airport, Trinidad, during which time there was a crew change, and up to the time of the announcement  that the aircraft was about to deplane at the Cheddi Jagan International  Airport, Timehri, the entire flight was uneventful.
She, however, recalled that even though it was raining, something seemed unusual about the visibility. “I was hardly seeing any lights, and was aware when the aircraft was hitting the runway,” she said.
Almost simultaneously, and in disbelief, Mrs. Eversley remembered seeing the aircraft like it was collapsing, as the roof appeared to be caving in.
Luckily, because their seating was close to an exit, the woman said she and her family were among the first set of passengers to evacuate from what by then was utter chaos.
Among the several family members who converged at the hospital was Josephine Eversley, Samuel’s mother. She said she was one of those who came to Guyana earlier, and is also thankful that God has spared the lives of everyone on the aircraft.
“Thank God for spared lives; it could have been worse,” the woman remarked, as she shook her head in disbelief.
Meanwhile, a GPHC release stated that 35 persons were treated at the institution within three hours yesterday. No names were listed in the release.
Among those injured were a 56 year old female, of Wakenaam, Essequibo Islands; a 33-year-old female from Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice suffering trauma to the head; a 52- year-old pilot, of Edinburgh Garden, Trinidad; a 23-year-old male of Point Villas, Trinidad; another female, 33, of Bowen Street, Marabal, Port of Spain; and a seven-year- old girl of Little Diamond.

According to the release, all patients who were not listed as having been admitted were treated and sent away.