SEVERAL GuySuCo cane harvesters working on sugar beds at the Blairmont Estate, West Bank Berbice had to be rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital for emergency treatment yesterday morning after they were struck by lightning during a thunder storm.

Seven males were admitted to wards in the hospital, but one whose condition was considered critical was placed on oxygen and saline and had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) within a few hours of being admitted. He is 28-year-old David Ramdihol of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.
The incident happened at approximately 08:45 hrs, whilst the men were fetching sugar cane from beds in the field for loading onto the punts.
“It was really frightening. It was the first time we witnessed such a thing, for all the years we working ‘pon de estate,” some of the still badly traumatized workers said at the Fort Wellington Hospital, yesterday.
The other six men warded at that hospital were treated for shocks and other less life-threatening injuries. They are Mike Harrilall, 21; Omesh Deochan, 27, and Wahabali Bacchus, all of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice;  Derrick Ramnarine, 25; Deodat Sahadat, 42, and Ramesh Ramoo, 38, all of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
Even though the condition of each of the men was rated as stable after receiving initial treatment, out of an abundance of caution, the doctor at the institution advised that they remain warded for further observation.
Region 5 Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth, who quickly rushed down to Fort Wellington Hospital on learning of the incident, credited the GuySuCo authorities at Blairmont Estate for quick response in getting the injured workers transported to hospital, and for quickly informing the  men’s families, who hastened down to the hospital on being told.
He also credited the prompt and efficient response of the medical staff at Fort Wellington Hospital, who did everything in their power to treat the injured in a timely and efficient manner.