Seventy-six-year-old Edward Richards, the eldest from a Wakapau Village family that was hospitalised over the weekend after they mysteriously fell ill, is now the second victim to succumb within days, from what relatives suspect is cyanide poisoning.
Richards, Stabroek News was told, succumbed around 2.15 pm yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
His daughter, Salema Thomas, died on Monday midday, days after she and four other family members were rushed to the hospital after complaining of feeling unwell. Two other relatives were hospitalised on Tuesday.
An autopsy performed yesterday on Salema’s remains listed her cause of death as inconclusive, a relative, Samantha Thomas said.
Samantha told Stabroek News that samples were taken from Salema’s remains for toxicology testing. The family was told that the results will be available within the next three to four weeks.
Salema and Edward were among four family members who were initially taken to the hospital over the weekend after they experienced the same symptoms.
The other two are Salema’s husband, Richard Thomas, her brother, Gavin and her father-in-law.
“Gavin condition is presently listed at critical. His condition is said to have deteriorated since…When he (Gavin) came the symptoms wasn’t so severe…He has deteriorated from when he came here to lunch time (yesterday) when I saw him last,” Samantha said.
They were all taken to the Charity Hospital separately and were later transferred to the Suddie Hospital. They were brought to the GPHC on Sunday morning.
Two other relatives, 15-year-old Kishanna Thomas and Anasha Richards, were transferred to the city on Tuesday. They are also warded at the GPHC.
Charles Richards, the dead woman’s brother, had previously explained to Stabroek News that Selema and her husband were taken to the Charity Hospital last Friday morning after they complained of feeling unwell.
Richards, who lived with the couple, fell ill on Saturday and was also admitted, followed by Gavin and her father-in-law on Sunday. “They get symptoms like vomiting. That lead to yellow eye, like pale yellow, and they urinate very dark in colour,” Charles had said.
He said after Selema, Richard and Edward fell ill, the others went to their house to visit them, after which they experienced the same symptoms and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Cyanide poisoning
Up to yesterday afternoon, it remained unclear what might have led to the family’s
illnesses.
However, relatives have since denied speculation that they may have consumed cassava bread that was contaminated.
“We born and we grow eating duh. It was not that…this is not cassava bread…somebody do this to them,” Samantha told Stabroek News yesterday.
She said even though doctors have not informed them of the diagnosis, the prescriptions she received for Gavin and Edward listed their diagnosis as cyanide poisoning.
“Even though the post-mortem or other doctors didn’t say, they keep telling us that it’s unconfirmed and inconclusive and all of that, the prescription stated that the diagnosis was cyanide poisoning and the medication that they need it was for the treatment of cyanide poisoning,” Samantha related.
She added that the family was asked to purchase two injections each for Gavin and Edward, since it is not available at the hospital. Up to yesterday afternoon, Samantha said they were unable to locate the drug despite several efforts.
“It’s just unfortunate…this drug that they have asked us to buy, we have been to four different hospitals, four different top pharmacies looking for this drug. Even the distributor we went to looking for this drug and we couldn’t find it,” Samantha explained.
She said the doctor has since warned her that if any other family members experience the same symptoms, they should not delay in seeking immediate medical attention.
“When the doctor see the symptoms, the doctor seh, ‘Maam, please advise yuh family whoever is feeling or getting this symptoms let them don’t even wait for a refferal or go to any other hospital. Bring them here immediately’,” Samantha reported.
