A man is now dead and his son hospitalised after a kerosene lamp exploded in their Warren Village, East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home.
Dead is Deodat (only name), called ‘Ziggy”, age 58, while his 16-year-old son,
Mark Deodat, is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital suffering third degree burns.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening. Deodat was being treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital for his injuries but died on Thursday evening.
Guyana Times understands that the lamp was alight when Deodat attempted to refuel it. It the process it exploded, showering the man and his son, who was in close proximity, in the flammable liquid which ignited.
Neighbours heard screams and saw fire in the house at about 20:00h on Tuesday. The cane harvester’s wife quickly summoned her 21-year-old son; Mark Deodat, who was out of the house and he reportedly gathered clothes and used it to extinguish the flames from his father and then his brother.
Neighbours assisted by throwing water on Deodat while his son jumped into a barrel containing water which was situated nearby.
The 16-year-old received burns to his upper body while his elder brother received minor burns in his attempt to save his father and younger brother.
The house was extensively damaged from the explosion.
