The 53-year-ol woman who died on the north west ferry last week succumbed to a heart attack.
This was related to Stabroek News by the family of Alma Wells of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara who died last Wednesday at approximately 6:15 am while travelling to Georgetown from Region One.
A Transport and Harbours Department press release last week said that while on board the ferry Wells was observed by crew members sitting motionless in her seat prompting them to check for a pulse. Not finding any, the release said that the captain then proceeded to give CPR to revive the passenger, who subsequently regained consciousness and was assisted by the crew to lie down on a mattress.
The passenger was then continuously monitored and after being observed to be motionless again, the captain informed the lighthouse and the management of T&HD of the situation on board. They in turn contacted the Coast Guard for assistance, the release said.
The Coast Guard immediately dispatched one of its Metal Shark vessels to the ferry, which was one mile west of the sea buoy, off the Essequibo Coast. The Coast Guard vessel arrived at 8.40 am and Wells was taken off the ferry.
Wells was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Following her death, there had been complaints that the air-conditioning aboard the vessel was not functioning properly.
