Howard Willis, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier, who allegedly accidentally shot himself earlier this month, is recovering at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

While he cannot speak or eat solid foods, the 21-year-old is conscious and can write, his father, Howard Willis Snr told this newspaper.  Meantime, investigations are ongoing by the army as well as a “neutral person” to ascertain how exactly, the Coast Guard rank sustained the wound.

The incident occurred around 8 pm on May 2 at the Coast Guard’s Ruimveldt Headquarters.

Willis Snr said that as a result of the wounds, his son’s jaw was fractured and the nasal part of his face “destroyed”. Willis remains a patient at the medical institution’s High Dependency Unit.

The elder Willis had earlier told this newspaper that he had heard two versions of the incident with one stating that Willis shot himself while the other suggested that it happened by accident.

He said yesterday that his son was educated and it was unlikely that he would deliberately shoot himself.

He said he hoped later on, when he had recovered, his son would be able to explain the incident but as of now he did not want to put him under stress.

Willis has not undergone surgery and this is expected to be done in the future.