— police investigating incident
FOLLOWING the incident in which the engine room of a trawler transporting fuel from Venezuela to Guyana caught fire and burnt all four crew members on board, on Sunday at Morawhanna, Region 1 (Barima/Waini) North West District (NWD), the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has listed the condition of the men as stable, up to press time.
The GPHC disclosed that, at 17:52 hrs on 11 June last, four males were referred to the GPHC after having sustained burns about their bodies from a reported trawler explosion. A 56-year-old male who had received 40% burns about his body was admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the GPHC. A 51-year old male who had received 45% burns about his body was admitted to the Burn Care Unit. A 55-year-old male who had received 32% burns about his body was admitted to the Male Medical Ward; and a 46-year-old male who had received 75% burns about his body was admitted to the Burn Care Unit.
The condition of each patient has been listed as stable.
A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard source told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the trawler was travelling from Kumaka to Morawhanna when it suddenly developed engine problems. The men were in the engine room when fire broke out, and they were all consequently burnt; but the fire was contained by the crew members of a passing vessel, who also assisted the injured men to the Mabaruma Hospital for initial treatment.
The source stated that the vessel had left Venezuela for Guyana with a consignment of fuel for the authorized dealer in Region 1, Miramar Inc., and the vessel was not involved in any illegal activity.
Last Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement), Mr. Seelall Persaud disclosed that the police have since launched an investigation into the trawler explosion at Morawhanna. He noted that at the time of the incident, the men were offloading a consignment of fuel from the neighbouring country. They were air dashed to the city, where they were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for treatment for their burn injuries.