Customs crash victim loses leg

FLOYD SIMMONDS, one of the 20 victims of the scaffolding crash had his left leg amputated as a result of the injuries he sustained.

at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday, the emotional Simmonds recounted the ordeal but said he felt lucky to be alive.

Simmonds, 47, whose two legs were badly crushed when the saffolding collapsed said the incident has changed his life.

At the time he was installing glass. He is trying to come to terms with losing one of his limbs and is taking it one step at a time.

He spoke endlessly on his cellphone to relatives and friends from his hospital bed yesterday. At his bedside were his relatives who offered him words of comfort and tried to reassure him that everything would be alright.

Newsday learnt that on Wednesday night, Simmonds underwent emergency surgery to try to save his left leg but doctors were unable to do and a decision was then taken to amputate.

Simmonds was allowed visits by only his close relatives on Wednesday night when he came out of surgery.

He is also in danger of losing his right leg which was also badly damaged, but doctors are hoping to save the leg.

Newsday learnt Simmonds may be moved to a private institution by his employers who were one of the contractors on the site. Hayden Peters, 33, of Morvant, who suffered a broken leg said he was on the ninth floor when the scaffolding came tumbling down.

He said it happened so fast that he thought he was going to die, but when he fell to the ground and saw other employees grimacing in pain, he offered a prayer to thank the Almighty for sparing his life.

In an interview from his hospital bed yesterday, Peters said while working he felt the scaffolding slipping and he fell from the ninth floor to the ground.

He was struck by pieces of wood and steel. Peters is anxious to recuperate so he can be back on his feet again.

He is awaiting word on how he will be compensated for his injuries.

Another employee Sean Mathas who suffered a broken arm said when he realised the scaffolding was crashing down, he held on to one part of the building but still ended up on the ground. He said he never feared for his life but was concerned about the welfare of the other employees who fell from the floors above.

A release from the North West Regional Health Authority revealed all 20 workers who were injured were treated,

Ten patients were treated with minor injuries while the other ten who are warded are in stable condition, Those with major orthopaedic injuries continue to receive treatment.