A mother and stepfather who allegedly set on fire, a 10-year-old boy of Enmore, East Coast Demerara in September 2023, are expected to be charged next Tuesday.
Stabroek News was told yesterday that the file had been returned from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and based on advice given, the couple will be charged. The mother was arrested by police on Thursday and efforts are being made to arrest the stepfather.
The incident occurred on September 7, 2023, at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Neil J called ‘Adi’, a 9-year-old boy, was doused with gasoline and set on fire by his mother and stepfather.
He sustained third degree burns to over 30 per cent of his body and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Burn Care Unit. In addition to acute burns, Neil’s entire body was also covered in bruises and injuries; his head was sliced, and his ear slit.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) facilitated the expenses, and with the help of volunteers the boy was transported to the United States for emergency treatment by air ambulance on September 18, 2023.
SHEA is a humanitarian organisation which provides financial assistance and coordinates free or low cost treatment to address the emergency medical needs of individuals in Guyana and the Caribbean.
According to a four-month update in December 2023 by SHEA in a Facebook post, Neil underwent multiple surgeries for various injuries including broken bones, lacerations, infections, and deep tissue burns across his entire body. His trachea became narrow due to fire inhalation injury and this had resulted in him experiencing respiratory problems and difficulty breathing.
SHEA reported that doctors made multiple surgical attempts to dilate his trachea, but none was successful, as damaged tissue continued to grow in layers, restricting his ability to breathe. Doctors had performed a tracheostomy surgery, creating an opening into the trachea (windpipe) from outside the neck. This procedure was expected to help oxygen reach his lungs and prevent suffocation.
“Adi was rushed into emergency surgery on three separate occasions due to tracheal complications. His airway was severely damaged during the fire incident, and as a result, damaged tissue continues to grow and block his airway causing breathing complications.
Due to the serious nature of his tracheal complication, Adi was medically airlifted from the burn center in Texas, to a specialized children’s hospital in California for surgery,” the organisation stated.
In October, SHEA noted that Neil also battled infections from previous injuries incurred over an extended period of time. One injury situated at the back of his head where he was allegedly hit with a metal rod was deemed as one of the toughest to treat.
Neil celebrated his 10th birthday on July 10, and while he remains hospitalised due to his extent of injuries, doctors have managed to treat his external injuries with great success, his internal injuries continue to be challenging.
