PHILBERT Edwards, 47, who has worked almost all his life to support himself, wife and children, is today wheelchair-bound, following an accident while he was operating a tractor in Cuyuni/Mazaruni.

One of his legs had to be amputated while the other is badly damaged, leaving him medically unfit to work and in dire need of any assistance for his family.

The tragedy, Edwards told the Guyana Chronicle, took place on the morning of January 15, 2013 as he was descending a hill in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area while working as a heavy duty machine operator. He lost control of the tractor he was driving and it toppled as he was trying to  negotiate a bad stretch of road and he got pinned and severely damaged both his legs.

The Sideline Dam, Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo resident stated that he was rushed to the nearest hospital which is at Bartica but given the severity of the injuries to his legs doctors transferred him to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he spent six weeks.

At GPHC he said the doctors told him that his left leg was badly damaged as his bones were crushed and it was beyond repair. They had to amputate it just below the knee while the right leg was damaged with several fractures but it was repaired to some extent.

Edwards is the father of three children, ages six, 13 and 17-years-old, and to date he is unable to walk and utilizes a wheelchair since the doctors told him he cannot use crutches just yet. However, he was deemed to be medically unfit to work.

At the time of the accident, Edwards said, he was attached to a logging company which is owned and operated by a Parika, East Bank Essequibo man, who promised to pay him a monthly salary but to date he is still waiting.

Edwards said he had worked with the company for one year and when he was hospitalized the boss man visited him at the institution and he was paid some money for four weeks but after he was discharged from the hospital the compensation ceased.

The man noted that his employer even told him that he would assist him in getting a prosthetic leg but he is still awaiting the fulfillment of that promise.

Edwards also told this newspaper that he is very unhappy with his medical condition and times are very difficult as his family is suffering. He was forced to send his oldest son, who is 17 years, to work in an effort to support the family.

In the meantime, his wife is unemployed and he has two school-age children to support. He said they would greatly appreciate any assistance that could be offered his family.