Post-mortem on Walter Willis set for today

The post-mortem examination on veteran Government engineer Walter Willis who died on Monday evening at the St. Joseph Hospital is expected to be done today.

Willis, 66, was initially pronounced dead on Monday morning at the facility but it was later learned that he was still alive and he was placed on life support.

In a brief statement, the hospital, where he had been admitted since Saturday “for multi-organ dysfunction,” confirmed his death on Monday evening. “The hospital has embarked on an investigation to ensure that all clinical guidelines were adhered to in keeping with Standard Operating Procedure and would like to extend deepest condolences to the family of Mr Willis,” it said.

Upon being prematurely notified of his death yesterday, many of Willis’ colleagues, including Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, had expressed shock since he had accompanied the minister, ministry staff and a media contingent on a tour of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project site at Timehri last Friday.

Last evening when contacted, his son Christopher told Stabroek News that it was related to his mother that an investigation was launched by the hospital.

Willis’ funeral service is scheduled for Friday at the Brickdam Cathedral following which he will be cremated at the Rumzigt foreshore, West Bank Demerara.