– after taking ill aboard Lady Northcote ferry

A MORAWHANNA, North West District couple is reportedly hoping for the best after their five-year-old son took a turn for the worse on Friday while heading to Mabaruma from Georgetown on board the Lady Northcote ferry.

Reports are that the child, whose name has been given as Martin Santiago, had been ill for some time and his parents, who reside at Smith Creek in Region One (Barima-Waini) decided to bring him to the city to seek medical attention.

According to a release from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), coastguard ratings stationed at Morawhanna responded to a call at around midday on Friday from the ferry, which was at the time travelling along the Waini River.

The child was rushed by the army to Kumaka, from whence he was taken by ambulance to the Mabaruma Hospital for treatment. He was later air-dashed to the city late Friday afternoon.

Hospital staff told the Guyana Chronicle that the child, whose condition was described as critical, had contracted an infection, and was being treated at home by his parents for it.

Up to press time on Friday evening, he was still warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).