TROY Collymore, who was shot and injured during an armed robbery at  Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday August 05, 2010, succumbed at about 12:15 hours on Saturday last at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).Investigations into the matter are continuing, Police said.
Meanwhile, the GPHC, in a press release on Friday last said “Troy Collymore, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who was reportedly shot at Plaisance succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced clinically dead  at 12:00 hours”.
The hospital said Mr. Collymore had sustained three gunshot wounds to the head, with no visible exit wounds, which resulted in his being brain dead. He was experiencing severe respiratory distress and had to be placed on the ventilator. The doctor explained to the relatives that due to the nature and extent of his injuries, he had a very slim chance of survival.
GPHC added that yesterday, during their routine checks, both the consultant and the attending medical officer of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), GPHC found that Collymore had no heart rate after which he was taken off the ventilator and certified as being dead.
Collymore’s relatives, however, assumed that the doctors took him off of the ventilator and this caused his death. One female relative began to abuse the staff, particularly the doctor. She threatened the doctors, swearing on a Bible that within three days, the doctor and her family will all die. These threats were also directed at any physician visible to her, GPHC said.
The hospital’s internal security had to be called to escort the irate relative from the ICU, however, her abuse continued and was uncontrollable thus staff was forced to call in the police, who arrived promptly and escorted the relative to the police station.
The doctor was obviously traumatised and had to be escorted home for fear that the relatives would return and follow through on their threats.
Management reiterated that the hospital employs very competent and professional staff; moreover, it will not tolerate the abuse of its staff particularly when they are performing their duties. It has also been noticed that a trend has recently developed whereby when loved-ones die, relatives suddenly become physicians and determine what caused the death. They refused to heed the professional’s medical advice and are quick to blame the medical and nursing staff for causing the deaths; with unsubstantiated speculations.
A police press release said they are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at about 21:45 hours on Thursday, August 05, 2010, at Plaisance Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, during which, one of the perpetrators, Anthony Taylor called ‘Bow Wow’ of Albouystown, was shot and killed.
Police said Noel Phillips, 48, an overseas-based Guyanese residing at Howes Street, Charlestown; Troy Collymore called ‘Nellie’, 35, of Plaisance Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara; and Clyde Harris, 23, of Plaisance, were also shot and injured.
Investigations so far have revealed that Noel Phillips, Troy Collymore and Chandrika Datt called ‘Shiv’, 27, of Industry, East Coast Demerara, were chatting in front of a drug store owned by Datt, when he left to close up the store after selling a customer. While in the process of closing up a man armed with a firearm entered and held him at gunpoint, while Anthony Taylor and another accomplice who were also armed accosted Phillips and Collymore outside.
Police said the armed man took away a quantity of jewellery valued at $320,000 in cash along with eight lap top computers from Chandrika Datt, while his accomplices took away jewellery valued at $600,000 and an undisclosed sum of cash from Noel Phillips.
During the robbery rounds were discharged which resulted in Anthony Taylor being shot and killed while Noel Phillips was shot to his right arm and chest, Troy Collymore was shot to his head, and Clyde Harris who was in the vicinity shot to his left side jaw.
The two other perpetrators escaped, while Noel Phillips has been admitted to a private hospital and Troy Collymore and Clyde Harris admitted to the GPHC.