Seaman’s legs severed in trawler mishap

Jan 19, 2009 News

A young seaman had his legs severed shortly after 18:00 hrs yesterday evening during a horrific trawler accident in the Atlantic Ocean.

Russell Cornelius, whose age and address were not given, was injured while operating a winch on the World friend 307, a trawler that is reportedly owned by Nobel House Seafoods. The mishap occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, some nine miles east of Port Georgetown.

Kaieteur News understands that Cornelius was operating a winch on the vessel when his legs got caught in the device.

His limbs were severed below the knees.

A source said that crew members managed to contact the lighthouse supervisor at around 18:45 hrs. The supervisor then contacted an officer from the Guyana Defence Coast Guard, and a Coast Guard vessel was sent out to sea to bring the injured man to shore.

After covering the victim’s mangled limbs with ice, the Coast Guard ranks brought his to shore in the vicinity of the Customs Boat House at Stabroek, where an ambulance was waiting.

Cornelius, who was still conscious, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and taken to the operating theatre. He was still undergoing surgery at press time.