Firefighter in Mae’s blaze dies, family calls for investigation

Voshaun Manbodh, 27, a member of the Guyana Fire Service who valiantly battled the blaze at Mae’s Schools, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday while receiving medical treatment.

In a statement, his family expressed dissatisfaction with the medical care he received while hospitalised and is calling on the authorities to launch an investigation into his death.

Manbodh sustained severe injuries in the line of duty when a wall collapsed on him, resulting in two fractures in his neck, impaired motor function, and an ear impediment.

He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on 5 February 2025, the same day of the destructive fire.

According to his family, an MRI was conducted, and the results were initially reported as clear. By Thursday, Manbodh was communicating normally, taking phone calls, and speaking coherently. However, in the following days, his condition steadily worsened instead of improving, which his family attributes to delayed medical interventions, inadequate monitoring, and critical lapses in care.

“Despite requiring urgent neurological evaluation, his MRI scan was significantly delayed. It was initially scheduled for 1:30 pm at St Joseph Mercy Hospital but was postponed due to poor preparation by hospital staff. When they finally attempted to take him for the scan after 2:00 pm, a last-minute failure to properly sedate him caused further delays and distress,” the family stated.

These issues, they further noted, placed him in a distressed state, leading to a deterioration in his condition. Additionally, they allege that he fell from his hospital bed—an incident that was not disclosed to them, which they only learned about from another patient.

When questioned, hospital staff reportedly downplayed the incident, stating that he was behaving aggressively and had to be restrained.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Manbodh was placed in the general Male Surgical Ward and, according to his family, did not receive specialised neurological care.

His mother repeatedly voiced concerns about his lack of proper restraint, hydration, and medical oversight, but these concerns were either ignored or inadequately addressed.

“We demand a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his treatment,” the family said in their statement.