Inquiry ordered into soldier’s death

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best has ordered a Board of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death last Friday of Lance Corporal Eon Blair who had been participating in an annual five-mile fitness run.

His autopsy, performed by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh on Tuesday stated that he died due to lung failure and blockage in the heart.

Eon Blair
Eon Blair

Blair, 28, of Number 51 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was participating in the run with other members of his unit when he experienced chest pains in the vicinity of the Umana Yana on High Street. The GDF said that he was immediately placed in the accompanying ambulance and taken to the Force’s Medical Centre at Camp Ayanganna, then subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he died.

Blair, who was stationed in the army’s Intelligence Unit, had been a member of the GDF for the past nine years.

His wife, Latoya Blair had told Stabroek News that she was shocked by his sudden demise, since though he was a diabetic he had no known heart condition.

The housewife had also related that a member of her husband’s squad had told her that while on the run he began complaining of feeling unwell and said he had stomach pains. She was told that the drill supervisor ignored him saying, “He always saying that” and it was not until he collapsed that persons rushed to his aid.

Blair will be given a military funeral later this week.