Two men died on Saturday afternoon at a mining camp in the Waiamu Backdam, Region 7 after they were crushed by a falling tree as they attempted to run to safety.
Dead are Clive McDonald of Bartica, said to be in his twenties and a father of two with another child on the way, and a man who is known as ‘Makaram’ from the East Coast Demerara.
Stabroek News was told that two men died minutes after they were taken out from under the fallen tree and the police travelled into the backdam along with the owner of the mining camp to bring out the bodies.
According to 29-year-old Anisha Feidtkou, who was at the mining camp at the time of the tragedy, the incident happened within a matter of minutes.
“All a we been sitting and gaffing when this thing happen, it just happen and I don’t know how I get save; is a miracle,” the woman told Stabroek News yesterday from the Bartica Hospital where she was being kept for observation.
She related that it has only been one week since was employed at the mining camp as a cook. It was around 4pm when she along with four of the workers were in the camp talking as she completed their meal. Shortly after the mechanic exited the camp she heard him telling them to run as a tree was falling. The woman said one of the men rushed out in front of her and she followed him while the now dead men brought up the rear.
“I running and den I look back and I see Red man coming behind me, and then like he turn back and while I keep running I holler and ask he why he turn back,” the woman said, adding that the other man appeared confused and did not know in which direction to run.
Seconds later she said the tree, which she described as being as tall as a three-storey building, came crashing down and she was covered by a branch. She was immediately pulled out followed by one of the men who informed her that he was not feeling anything before dying shortly after. Other workers were forced to cut some branches before they could bring out the second man, and he died as they were putting him on an excavator to bring him out for medical treatment.
The mother of two was taken to the Bartica Hospital early yesterday morning and she said that thankfully no bones were broken although the doctor told her that she should remain for observation.
“A feeling nuff pain but I know is a miracle that I still alive, and I thank God. Is the first time I experience something like this even though I working in the bush for a while,” she said.
