(Antigua Sun) A 30-year-old man is currently a patient at the Edward’s Ward at the Holberton Hospital where he is nursing severe burns to both legs.
Carlton Fitzgerald Sancho, originally of Guyana, is an employee at the Antigua Distillery Limited (ADL) where the incident occurred on Monday, shortly after 6 p.m., during his four to 12 work shift. According to preliminary reports, the injured man fell into one of three uncovered tanks which measure between 10 to 12 ft in depth and which are usually kept closed.
It was further reported that the tanks are to be kept closed but at times, they are kept uncovered for convenience.
The Antigua Sun spoke to the patient at the hospital at which time he explained that he had gone to the hot mix area to change the wash – a mixture of molasses, steam and yeast used to make the alcohol – as was mandatory. He said on his way to the area, all three of the tanks that are used to release waste were open.
Sancho said after checking the tank, the last attendant on shift should ensure that they are resealed.
He said, “I end up in it because right where I have to walk, there are pipes running to the big tanks; and because of the set-up, you have to ‘duck down’ (bend down). I done know that they supposed to be locked, so when I raise up my head now I see one of the pipes, and when I duck down to go forward to continue walking to the tank, I dropped straight in the hole.”
The man added that it was his quick thinking and his knowledge of the tanks’ set-up which allowed him to be able to avert further injury.
“I didn’t panic
