Paralysed after fall from mango tree

Two months ago — June 5 — Singh of Todd’s Road, Chaguanas, went to the back of his house and climbed a mango tree. While picking the fruit, a branch on which he was perched, broke, causing him to fall, some 25 feet.

Singh, a truck driver, landed with his two feet hitting the ground first. He could not move thereafter - he was paralysed from the waist down.

Recalling the last moments before the accident, Singh said: “I was on the branch and then I heard a cracking sound and before long I was on the ground. I tried to get up but I couldn’t. I was in excruitiating pain.”

“I had to shout out to my sister who was at home and she in turned got daddy to help me,” he added.

Singh, the second of four children for his parents — Amar, 46, and Piary, 47, was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility and then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope.

There, doctors who attended to Singh confirmed his paralysis. He underwent surgery on June 30 and has now been discharged from hospital and is resting at home still unable to move or walk.

Before the accident, Singh was planning to marry his girlfriend of four years, Shanti Sankar. But now he has to revise those plans. However, he has paid special tribute to his girlfriend for not leaving his side since the incident.

“I never thought that it would have been so hard especially to know that one minute I was walking and the next I was crippled. I had so many plans for my life. To get married and work and build my house but look at what happen,” Singh said.

Singh is also a talented tassa player. He used to play the bass drum for the “Todd’s Road Youngsters” Tassa group.

Singh’s father, Amar, is however distraught over the fact that he is not employed and cannot help financially in sending his son to an institution where he would be able to get the required treatment and therapy.

Amar who is also ailing, has now the double task of seeing about his son, as well as his wife. His wife, Piary, is a diabetic and is now disabled as doctors had to amputate her left leg.

“I am very worried about myself, my wife and my son. My two other boys work but still the cost of living is too high and I have to trust in God to make out,” Amar said.

“It real hard to take care of my family, especially my son who needs medicine and therapy. If anyone can assist in anyway possible, please do. God will surely bless you,” Amar pleaded.

If anyone is willing to assist, Singh can be contacted at 754 - 1428.