A security guard attached to RK Security Services died on his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), just hours after he was severely battered while on duty at the Berbice High School.

George Campbell

George Campbell, 60, of Canefield, East Canje was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital with severe wounds to his head, face and right eye. It was not until 4 a.m. yesterday that a nurse at the New Amsterdam hospital recognised him and informed his relatives that he had been taken there after the attack. Relatives felt that if other persons had checked the contacts in his cell phone, they [relatives] would have been informed about the attack much earlier.

His sister, Hulda Chung told Stabroek News that when she got to the hospital arrangements were being made to take Campbell to the GPH in an ambulance. She said the right side of his face was severely wounded and his right eye appeared as though it was “burst.” He was also bleeding profusely from his mouth and nose.

Reports are that Campbell had confronted a man who was in the school’s compound. This newspaper learnt that he was “making checks” around the compound when he saw the man and inquired what he was doing there. The “big, burly man,” who was reportedly wearing a cap that was pulled down in front of his face, then picked up a chair and brutally attacked the guard. There are also reports that Campbell was being robbed because he was shouting, “Ow, ah don’t have money!”

According to relatives, he was still conscious after he was taken to the hospital and was telling persons what had transpired. They learnt that Campbell was rescued by a security guard from the home of former mayor of New Amsterdam, Errol Alphonso. They said after hearing the screams for help, the security guard ran to his assistance. Campbell’s attacker jumped the fence and escaped.

Alphonso’s vehicle rushed the injured guard to the hospital, located just a stone’s throw away and relatives were extremely grateful to him        and the guard. Campbell’s niece, Sharon Campbell, told this newspaper that she accompanied her uncle to the GPH in the ambulance. Along the way, the nurse administered oxygen and saline.

They were in the vicinity of Enmore, East Coast Demerara after 6 am, she said, when the “last set of blood gushed out of his mouth” and he apparently took his last breath. She said when they got to the GPH, his death was confirmed and staff there-after learning from the chart what time he was taken to the New Amsterdam hospital-commented that because of his condition he should have been taken there much sooner.

Campbell’s brother, Cyril, said although he was supposed to work the “12 to eight shift” he left home around 10 pm “because he had to [relieve] a female guard.” Campbell worked most of his life as an agricultural mechanic with Burma Rice Research Station and after that he worked with Cyril who is a building contractor. Four years ago, he started working as a security guard.

Also a former athlete who represented the Rose Hall Sugar Estate in “cross country racing,” Campbell leaves to mourn his three children and grandchildren who reside overseas. The man separated from his wife several years ago and lived alone.