Man dies after wall falls on him

Father of two, Harry “Robin” Deonarine, died moments after a concrete wall fell on him while working on a construction site on Tuesday at Lachoo’s Road, Penal.

Deonarine, 47, of Old Clarke Road, Penal, succumbed to his injuries at the Penal Health Centre Penal at about 4 pm. He was employed As a labourer with M Ramroop Heavy Equipment Rental and Construction Limited.

Yesterday, Warner together with Minister in the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, Stacy Roopnarine, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Premchand Sookhoo, and other officials, visited the bereaved family to offer moral support.

“We have to make sure the family is taken care of, and I have given them the assurance we will take care of them. Some things we cannot explain, and this is one of them. We know we cannot bring him back but we want to make sure the family is comfortable. This is in the Prime Minister’s constituency and she sends her condolences,” said Warner. He was unable to say exactly how he intends to assist the family.

According to a police report, an excavator had earlier removed dirt to make way for the construction of a box drain at Lachoo’s Road near a concrete wall. Deonarine and co-workers were in the process of placing steel baskets in the drain when the wall came crashing down.

On impact, Deonarine fell with the debris on top of him and became unconscious. Luckily, no one else was seriously injured, and co-workers later removed Deonarine. He was rushed to the health centre where he succumbed to his injuries. One co-worker, the report added, sustained minor injuries.

As he consoled Deonarine’s weeping wife Mahadaye Vashtee Deonarine , 33, Warner repeatedly assured her “we will be here for you.” Speaking softly he told her sometimes things happen that cannot be explained.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said work started at the site about one-and-a-half weeks ago for the construction of a box drain with a pavement on top. He added work would resume as soon as police investigators give the ok to do that.

An investigation has also been launched by the Ministry which, Warner said, would take about two weeks to complete.

Deonarine’s mother-in-law Basdaye Herralal, who lives next door, told Newsday he left home at about 6.30 am to go to work at Lachoo’s Road, Penal. She described him as a hard-working man who provided everything he could for the his wife and children — Rishi , 11, and Priya, four.

“This is an accident and we are not blaming anyone for the death. He loved his family, when he goes to the market, they are with him. Thirteen years now they have been married. On that day he walked from his parents’ home to their home with tassa music playing,” Herralal said.

But as relatives and friends offered support to the bereaved family Priya appeared to be oblivious of the death as she playfully interacted with relatives. Her grandmother said: “Priya is only asking for her daddy. She says when he comes from work he would take her to the parlour.”

An autopsy performed at the Forensic Science Centre, Port-of-Spain yesterday by Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris, stated death was as a result of head and other internal injuries and haemorrhage and blunt trauma.

Cpl Harripersad of the Penal Police station is investigating.