Fireman succumbs to injuries sustained in Mae's School fire

27-year-old fireman, Vashan Manbodh, who was badly injured when a wall collapsed on him as he battled the Mae’s School fire last Wednesday, has died.

Manbodh passed away on Saturday night at the Georgetown Hospital. He reportedly suffered multiple head injuries as well as injuries to other parts of his body.

His death came hours after his family raised concern about his care at the hospital, complaining that he was in an open ward, although seriously injured and had not been administered an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan to ascertain internal injuries.

“Since Wednesday he was in the hospital, and his situation has gotten worse. He was speaking coherently on Wednesday and today (Saturday) his condition deteriorated to the extent that he is not speaking coherently or recognizing persons he should be able to recognize and he also has to be restrained”, a family member told News Source hours before the man’s death.

News Source understands that the fireman sustained fractures to his neck, which affected his motor skills and he also complained of hearing.

The extent of internal injuries was unknown and the man’s mother was called to the hospital on Saturday night, where she was informed that he had died. The family also said it was then that they learned that the man had also fallen off of the bed hours earlier.

The death of the firefighter has left the Guyana Fire Service in a state of shock and disbelief. Two other firefighters who were injured are still recovering. This is the first time in more than two decades that a fireman has lost his life as a result of injuries sustained in the line of work.

The Mae’s School was gutted by fire on Wednesday. More than eight fire tenders responded to the early morning emergency call. It took firemen more than two hours to completely douse the blaze which burnt the school to the ground.

Statement from Family of late Fireman

“It is with deep sorrow and concern that we announce the untimely passing of Fireman Voshaun Manbodh, a member of the Guyana Fire Service, who succumbed to his injuries while under medical care.

Fireman Manbodh, 27 years old, was injured in the line of duty when a wall collapsed on him, resulting in two fractures in his neck, impaired motor function, and an ear impediment.

He was admitted to Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday, 5th. March, 2025. A MRI was conducted and the results were said to be clean, by Thursday, Manbodh was communicating normally, as well as taking phone calls and speaking coherently, however, following this observation, the approaching days saw his condition steadily worsening instead of improving due to delayed medical interventions, inadequate monitoring, and critical lapses in care.

Despite requiring urgent neurological evaluation, his MRI scan was painstakingly delayed, initially scheduled for 1:30 PM at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital but postponed due to poor preparation by hospital staff.

When they finally attempted to take him for the scan after 2 PM, there was a last-minute failure to properly sedate him, leading to further delays and distress.

Instead of taking appropriate measures to ensure his safety, hospital staff attempted to restrain him using only two pieces of string tied to his hands, which were wholly inadequate to stabilize him. His legs were also loosely tied with bandages, but he remained unstable and distressed throughout the process.

The stretcher they used to transport him had no restraints, making it even more difficult to ensure his safety during movement.

Throughout this time, his condition notably deteriorated, yet no alternative medical interventions were pursued in a timely manner. While under hospital care, Mr. Manbodh suffered a fall from his hospital bed, an incident that was not disclosed to his family by medical staff.

Instead, a fellow patient informed his mother. Shockingly, when she arrived at the hospital, staff downplayed the incident; not mentioning anything to her at all and instead stated that he was behaving aggressively, leading to haphazard attempts at restraining him using only two pieces of string.

These restraints were so ineffective that he remained unsettled and in distress, further complicating his medical condition. It should also be noted that, despite the severity of his injuries, Fireman Voshaun Manbodh was placed in the general Male Surgical Ward, receiving no specialized neurological care or heightened medical attention.

Mr. Manbodh’s mother repeatedly expressed concerns about his lack of proper restraint, hydration, and medical oversight, yet her concerns were either ignored or inadequately addressed.

Around 12 PM Friday, she observed that his IV fluids had been removed, leaving him without necessary hydration and medication despite his critical condition; up to the point of preparing him to the 2nd MRI, it was not connected to him.

Additionally, when Manbodh’s mother met with the surgeon on Thursday, she noticed that his urinary catheter had also been removed. Upon questioning hospital staff, she was told that a nurse had taken it out for no justifiable reason. It was only after her persistent inquiries that the neurosurgeon instructed the nurse to reinstate it.

These serious lapses in basic medical care contributed significantly to his worsening condition and ultimate deterioration and death.

After hours of suffering and repeated delays, Mr. Manbodh passed away, and his mother was only informed at 11:18 PM that night. His untimely and preventable death raises grave concerns about the standard of medical care, hospital protocols, and emergency response procedures for injured service members.
We demand a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his treatment and the negligence that contributed to his passing.

Those responsible for his inadequate care must be held accountable, and urgent reforms must be implemented to ensure that no other firefighter, emergency responder, or citizen suffers a similar fate. It is sad to say, but there was NO clear commitment and urgency in his care.

His family, colleagues, and the people of Guyana deserve answers, and we will not rest until justice is served.

-9th March 2025″