An Imbaimadai miner died on Tuesday, minutes after he was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in an unconscious state.
Lennox ‘Puppy’ Primo, 35, of Lot 36 Robert’s Road, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara suffered severe head injuries some three months ago and was subsequently brought to the city and admitted as a patient of the GPH.
Efforts made to get a comment from the GPH’s Public Relations Officer Alero Proctor yesterday proved futile.
When Stabroek News visited the Primo family’s home yesterday, the dead man’s brother, Desmond Glasgow, said that according to the information he received, Primo was working in the field when someone lost control of a machine, which subsequently struck him. Primo, who had been a miner for 15 years, suffered a fractured skull as a result.
Glasgow said they were not initially informed of the incident but found out from the man’s girlfriend only about three weeks ago.
“When he was at the hospital, she call and tell we. It happen about three months ago, [but] we get to hear long after when he done get worse. When we go, he was strapped down and they were feeding him through his nose and these things,” Glasgow said, adding that his brother was transported back and forth between the High Dependency Unit and the Intensive Care Unit.
The man explained that about a month ago, he was told that Primo’s condition had improved tremendously, so much so that he had been discharged and taken home by his girlfriend. “People de see he walking and talking and he de get discharge and went by he girl then he start get back bad and they carry he back and he fall into an unconscious state and never get up back. They say he develop meningitis,” Glasgow explained.
However, a few days ago, the man’s sister, Lisa Primo, received a telephone call from the hospital, which indicated that he must be picked up.
The woman said that at the hospital, her brother was lifted out on a stretcher by porters to a waiting taxi and there were tubes still attached to his nose. “They bring he out with the tube but nothing like oxygen or anything,” she noted.
Glasgow added that his sister was not required to sign any documents.
“Soon’s he meet home he die. Since I go up my step that was it, he just stretch out. Right away my pressure went up because me ain’t get to really see him,” the dead man’s brother said.
When asked about whether or not they will be taking any action over the man’s death, Glasgow said he is uncertain of his next move, since the situation is so unusual.
However, another relative, he added, has been in contact with the hospital. The family stated that the man’s employer has not yet made contact.
