Guyanese businessman and Tourism Marketing Agent, Chris Bassoo lost his 4-week battle against COVID-19 in Brazil today, leaving family and friends devastated.

Bassoo who became stranded in Brazil with his wife and newborn baby just after the pandemic forced the shutdown of Brazil last year passed away in the Brazilian capital this morning.

One of his relatives explained on Facebook that he passed away from heart failure as a result of COVID-19 which damaged 50% of his lungs. He was admitted to the ICU in a hospital in Brasilia and never recovered. In the past four weeks, he was attached to a ventilator, according to the relative.

Bassoo documented being stranded in Brazil on his Facebook page with no way out as the borders remained closed and as Brazil raced to the #2 spot in the list of countries mostly affected by the pandemic.

Along with his wife and young baby, he spent the last 15 months living in a hotel as he managed his spa business in Guyana virtually.

He made his last post on Facebook on the 9th May as he wished his wife a Happy Mother’s Day.

He also highlighted the impact that the pandemic was having in Brazil. While Bassoo survived the peak of the pandemic in Brazil when thousands were dying daily, he became infected recently and never recovered.

A relative noted that although he was stranded in the neighbouring country, he made the best of it by becoming friends with hotel workers and neighbours of the hotel he called home.

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