Bath man crushed to death by tractor

A 40-year-old man of Bath Experiment, West Berbice died when the tractor he was driving turned over and pinned him in the rice field aback of Hopetown Village around 9:45 am yesterday.

Harold and his wife Shanta.
Harold and his wife Shanta.

Inderjeet ‘Harold’ Rai, a father of four was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fort Wellington Hospital. At the time of his demise he was towing another tractor to plough the field when the one at the back got stuck.

Driver of the other tractor, Rohan, told Stabroek News that Rai did not look back so he did not realize that the other vehicle was having difficulties. The noise from both vehicles would have made it difficult for him to hear Rohan shouting.

As he kept moving the tractor overturned and pinned his body except for his feet. Rohan immediately ran to his assistance and tried to pull him out “but me couldn’t manage.”

He then shouted for two other tractor operators who were working on the same field. Another driver, Azad ‘Boye’ Nazir told this newspaper after about 20 minutes they were able to pull out the tractor and free Rai.

According to Rohan when they lifted him up he made “two blows” as if gasping for breath and fell unconscious. He said they drove him out on the dam and rolled him several times but by then he appeared to be dead.

He said the only cell phone that was available among them was the one Rai was carrying but it was damaged by the water. Another worker drove all the way out on the road to inform their employer about the mishap.

The police were also informed and they returned with them to bring out the body.

Meanwhile Nazir recalled that three years ago a tractor also turned over and pinned him but luckily he managed to “save meself” by keeping his head above the water until his colleagues released his feet which were pinned.

Amid loud wailing the man’s wife, Shanta Rai, 35, told this newspaper that at around 11 am “me sister-in-law call and tell me that tractor turn over and pin me husband but she don’t know how bad.”

She said her niece towed her on a bicycle to his employer’s house to inquire about the accident and she was told that it was true but they did not know exactly what had happened.

She then went to the Fort Wellington Hospital but he was not there as yet. She went home and returned at around 12:45 pm with her children and other relatives at the same time that they were taking him off the trailer.

She noticed a gash on his forehead and on his tummy. He was then taken to the ward where the doctor confirmed that he was dead.

Shanta recalled that when her husband who operated a tractor for 10 years, left for work at 6:30 am three of his four children – Nicholas, 13, Andrew, 12, and six-year-old Kimesha – were fast asleep. She said he phoned his other daughter, Letisha who lives with his sister, to wish her a happy birthday. She turned 11 yesterday.

He, Shanta and the children were planning to visit Letisha for her special day when he returned home from work.

The woman said sadly that after he was gone Nicholas washed his slippers to surprise him.

In tears she said she could “never get back a husband like Harold” who was kind to everyone and a dedicated father and husband. She was now worried about how she would be able to take care of her children.

His mother, Jasoda Rai, 74, said two weeks ago her son, the last of six siblings visited her after he heard she was sick and “he tell me to pack me bags and come and spend a couple days wid he.”

She said although her bags were packed she never got to go.