Sixteen-year-old Angel Hope who was involved in an accident a week ago at Byderabo Public Road, Bartica, on Saturday succumbed to her injuries at the Infectious Disease Hospital at Liliendaal after contracting the COVID-19.
Hope, who resided at Mora Camp Bartica, Essequibo River, tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), after arriving there for treatment. She was subsequently transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital at Liliendaal along with her mother Leona Campbell who also tested positive for the virus.
The deceased teen, due to the injuries sustained in the accident, remained a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until her demise.
John Campbell, the teen’s step father, during an interview with Stabroek News said Hope was taken to the Infectious Disease Hospital on Monday afternoon. He noted that a CT scan was requested due to her head injuries but was unsure of the results since he was not given any further information.
He explained that while his daughter was unconscious he saw life in her and movements in her body. He added that his wife, Leona after arriving at GPH, initially tested negative for the virus but after being re-tested some three to four hours later, officials said she tested positive.
However, Leona told this newspaper that she does not believe she was COVID-19 positive since she did not have any cold-like symptoms or difficulty breathing. She was discharged from the hospital yesterday without being re-tested for the virus.
Leona recounted that at the Infectious Disease Hospital, she constantly enquired about her daughter’s condition and was told she was critical. She was eventually allowed to see her on Saturday before she later succumbed. She believe that the health officials did their best to care for Hope who she described as a friendly person to everyone she met.
The police had reported an accident involving a pickup truck (GJJ 2802) driven by Mark Nurse, 55, of 175 Mongrippa Hill, Bartica and a lorry (GPP 406) driven by 47-year-old Rawle Ward of 51 Seventh Avenue, Bartica.
At the time of the accident the pickup was carrying several occupants identified as Duane Nurse, 8; Donaire Nurse, 6; and Condolezza Nurse, 15; all of 175 Mongrippa Hill, Bartica. Angel Hope, Caroline Nurse, a 41-year-old housewife of 175 Mongrippa Hill, Bartica, and Leona Gonsalves, 45, of Mora Camp, Bartica was also travelling in the vehicle.
Police enquiries revealed that the pickup was proceeding north along the western side of the road at a fast rate of speed as the lorry proceeded south along the eastern side of the said road. The driver of pickup apparently lost control causing the vehicle to topple several times, before it eventually collided into the right side front of the lorry.
As a result of the collision the occupants and driver of the pickup were flung out of the vehicle and onto the roadway where they received injuries about their bodies.
They were all picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited persons and conveyed to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries.
Condolezza Nurse, Donaire Nurse, Angel Hope, Leona Gonsalves, and Mark Nurse, were later medevac’d by the Guyana Defence Force to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment where they were all admitted.
Meanwhile, a Breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the lorry showed no trace of alcohol on his breath. The investigation is ongoing.
