A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) captain was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after he was involved in an accident a stone’s throw from where he lived, shortly before 10 last night on the Aubrey Barker access road.
A young Ansel Semple in battle gear
Dead is Ansel Semple, 31, of 1033 Aubrey Road South Ruimveldt. Two cars that were reportedly involved in the accident were being held by the police up to press time this morning. However the circumstances of the accident were not clear.
Semple’s girlfriend Natalie Goodman told Stabroek News that he had just left home when she heard the loud collision. Upon checking she realized that Semple was involved in the accident. Goodman said that she is not clear on the circumstances surrounding the accident and by the time she reached the scene he had already been placed in a car to be taken to the hospital. Sobbing uncontrollably Goodman said that she entered the car with him and drove to the hospital where the man was pronounced DOA. “They said he died before he reached,” she told Stabroek News.
Taxi driver Chris Williams told Stabroek news that he was driving out of Aubrey Barker road and stopped to offer assistance when he saw the crowd. He too said that he does not know what happened but only transferred Semple to the hospital.
At the dead man’s father Cecil Semple’s home, relatives and friends gathered as news of the death spread. While attempting to provide information to this newspaper the man realized that his computer which he turned off before going to the hospital upon hearing of his son’s accident was missing.
Relatives recalled that the man had been in a near-death accident several years ago on the Linden Highway involving an army pickup.
A number of Ansel Semple’s colleagues also gathered at the hospital expressing shock at his death.
His sister said that he called her in the afternoon telling her he was “going to pass and see me…he never did,” she cried at the hospital last night.
Meanwhile the weapon he was carrying at the time of the accident was not recovered by police. When he was taken to the hospital only the weapon’s holder was found on him. A little while later his neighbour turned up with several rounds of ammunition that were recovered at the scene; but the weapon was not found up to press time.
The man was at the Tacama army base for the last two weeks and only returned yesterday, Goodman related. The man also leaves to mourn a six-year-old daughter.
This man attended SandHurst before me and he will be sadly missed!!!
…….is this cecil semple who use to work in police forensic lab…..he had a two chldren a boy and a girl………i know this kid ……..back in the day the father will tow him and his sister on the bike to the lab…..this call for a full investigation…..guyana!!!…….hm!…….
The loss of a exemplary young man,respectful and honest . That’s how I remembered him; that’s because I once lived four doors from him. I remember him preparing for the military life mind, body and soul. He was up early every morning running and in the afternoons we were in my backyard lifting weights. His hard work payed off and he was serving our country until his demise. My condolences to his family ….To you my friend, rest in peace.
David C.
Imagine all the tings they did us at SandHurst didnt kill him, now look how he dies….The lord works in mysterious ways……
HOW COME YOU BLAME THE LORD AND NOT THE GOVT, SURPRISE…………..
This is shocking and sad, I can’t believe this happened to Ancel. He was one of the smartest and funniest persons I ever knew, he was a great friend. I thought he passed through the worst when he had that accident on the Linden highway. This is shocking beyond belief for me.
Our roads are like hungry munsters, waiting to devour those of us who find ourselves on the “wrong side” of traffic. Aubry Barker road is so dark it seems like the devil has made it his permanent residence. Not so long ago a drunk man was struck down by a mini-bus the ran over by a car. This is a major thoroughfare that should have street lamps.
My sympathy goes out to the Semple family.
The army has lost an asset.
Yuh see wuh i BEEN TELLING YALL SINCE THE LAST ACCIDENT WITH THAT MAN, THE ROAD AINT GOT NO STREET LIGHT!!!! AND THE BLODDY BUSES ALWAYS SPEEDING!!
REMEMBER THAT – ACCIDENTS JUST DO NOT HAPPEN – THEY ARE CAUSED!
wow rest in peace i just hope this was an accident and not foul play.
What happened to his missing gun?
Probably imprudence/speed was the cause of the accident that snuffed the life of such a young Army Captain in the Prime of his life,
Guyana lost a true SON.
My Heartfelt Sympathy to the Family—————————–R.I.P———————–
ARMY CAPTAIN DIED IN ACCIDENT.WEAPON HE WAS CARRYING MISSING.COMPUTER MISSING FROM FATHER’S HOME WHERE PERSONS WERE PAYING CONDOLENCE.Larcenyof weapon,larceny of computer.This sounds unreal.Crime seems to be a minor industry in Guyana.The circumstances show inhuman behaviour.I do hope the weapon is recovered,in the interest of public safety,and whoever took the computer can put it somewhere,with a view of its safe return.My heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.
Sorry Big D, I disagree with you on a few things here. Crime is a MAJOR ENtErPRISE in Guyana. Most of our compatriots have lost their values, morals & have either mutated or metamorphosised to uncaring, heartless beasts. Yes it is a true disgrace & utter lack of EVERYTHING good for people to be stealing from the dead & their still living relatives in this moment of real grief. I hope the perpetrators are found.
My heartfelt condolences to the Semple family, especially his little daughter. He was a good pal of mine, always jovial…and very cool depsite being an Army captain at such a young age. He will always be remembered.
Coming to think of it and reading the comment of BIG D, something does sound wrong!!
I hope his dad pulls out all the cards he has to solve this one, to truly determine whether it was indeed an accident or a staged crime. It is indeed fishy.
Hey “SandHurst First”! So, from what you are saying then it appears that you have to have someone “watching” your back.
Sympathy goes out to the man’s (Baby Face Soldier’s) family.
Nice hatchet job thought SN.
Yes Sandhurst First it does sound kinda strange !!
my condolences to the family
My condolences to the family of this bright star, may he rest in peace.
This is a great loss to the GDF and Guyana at large. Being a captain at 31 is no easy feat at all.
It seems inhumane that people will steal a weapon from a dying man.
By the way, has anyone ever considered how many lives would have been saved if injured persons were transported to hospital by ambulances, instead of been bundled into a car,van , minibus or whatever?
This “stone-age way of transferring the wounded has no place in the 21st century.
My beloved LoveGT4Real, although we all understand exactly what you mean we have to sadly & shamefully admit that the ambulances are either in states of disrepair or lack drivers, parts or gas. Somt of them are so archaic that a horse driven cart might get you to the hspital faster. The best ones MAY be found on the sugar estates . . . . . . now, go figure!!!