Abbi Blackman, Shanaqua discharged from hospital

Popular female calypsonian Abbi Blackman and fellow performer Shanaqua, who both sustained injuries when a jeep in which they were occupants plunged 100 feet down a precipice at Maracas on Saturday morning, were released from hospital yesterday.

Both of them said, they are lucky to be alive as Blackman is still nursing soft tissue injuries and Shanaqua suffered a broken leg. The two claimed that they were unable to perform at the Diva Calypso Cabaret International tent because of the injuries, but they are hoping to be back on the stage by Friday.

The two energetic performers said that on Saturday morning around 2 am, they were waiting for transportation to take them to their La Fillette home, when they were offered a lift by a man they knew. On reaching Maracas close to a sign indicating “Slow- Dangerous Curve,” the jeep started rolling down the precipice. Blackman said,  she and Shanaqua were thrown out of the vehicle and ended up down a precipice. “We just started crying out for help and began crawling our way back to the road,” said Blackman.

A couple in the area heard their cries for help came to their rescue.
A rope was thrown down the precipice and Blackman, Shanaqua, the driver of the jeep and two others were pulled to safety. They were then rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.