Prisoner loses leg while weeding “Dutch” burial ground

Prisoner loses leg while weeding “Dutch” burial ground

A 26-year-old inmate of the Georgetown Prison who is scheduled to be released at the end of January is now a patient of the Georgetown Hospital after he lost his right leg in a freak accident.

The incident occurred on Sunday while he was on work duty at the old Bourda burial ground. The young who has been identified as Jerry Baird was weeding between the tombs of the old burial ground when the blade from the grass cutter connected with and sliced its way through his right leg.

The young man said he became unconscious and was unaware of what took place until he regained consciousness hours after and realised that he was a patient of the hospital and one of his legs was missing.

With his voice cracking and a sad look on his face, Baird explained that he is just one month away from regaining his freedom. He is wrapping up a 24 month sentence for possession and trafficking of marijuana.

“All I have in this life is one sister. My mother is dead and my father is dead and now this happen just a month before I come out of the prison and start over my life, I can’t believe it”, he said.

The young man said he  is still trying to come to grips with losing a leg. He said that he doesn’t understand what took place since the blade of the grass cutter did not connect with anything while he was weeding that would have resulted in him losing control of it. He said the blade cut right through his safety boots.

Prisoners who are well-behaved and who would have showcased evidence of being reformed are the ones that would be enrolled  in the social programme of the Prison Service and be allowed to participate in clean up projects outside of the prison that are supervised by prison officers.

The Welfare Department of the Georgetown Prison is looking into the man’s injuries and is expected to offer assistance.

The Bourda burial ground is one of the oldest burial sites in the city. It is believed to house the tombs of old dutch men from the colonial years.

The ground has been ignored for years by city workers who would complain that it appeared haunted.

Filed: 15th December, 2014

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