Lyndon Kyte, the pensioner who perished in the fire which gutted the Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) apartment he rented, died as a result of smoke inhalation and burn injuries, an autopsy confirmed.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor confirmed the findings of the autopsy, which was performed yesterday morning by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
Stabroek News had reported that the fire on Monday started around 4.20pm at Lot 570 Tenth Field, Cummings Lodge, ECD.
Kyte’s burnt remains were discovered in the kitchen area of the house. He lived alone.
The house is owned by Coral Bell, 63.
The origin of the fire remains unknown.
Bell had told Stabroek News that she was entering her house when she noticed smoke. She said she immediately looked in the direction of Kyte’s apartment when she saw the fire.“I was in front sitting and I hear ‘boom’ like somebody fall down or something. I don’t know. If he go to the stove, I don’t know,” Bell noted.
Bell had said that she rushed to assist Kyte but noticed his door was locked. She said she then called out for him but got no response.
An alarm was raised and neighbours formed a bucket brigade in a bid to extinguish the fire but they were unsuccessful.
Bell related that they experienced difficulties since the water pressure at the time was very low.
The Guyana Fire Service was summoned and they managed to put out the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings which are situated close to each other.
Kyte had resided at the location for about four years.
