Rigby's cause of death unknown

Rigby’s cause of death unknown

Jan 28, 2010 Sports

Funeral set for tomorrow

FLASHBACK!!! Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony congratulates the late Roxanna Rigby (centre) atop the medal podium at the 2008 Guiana Games after her dominant performance in the sprint events.

By Edison Jefford
The family and friends of the late national athlete, Roxanna Rigby are stilled baffled as to what may have caused the abrupt demise of the prolific sprinter and volleyball player last Thursday night, following an inconclusive autopsy.
Rigby’s post-mortem was done on Tuesday and the pathologist, Dr. Vikanand Brijmohan could not give relatives the cause of her death, but rather gave the certification for burial, which will take place tomorrow at 4pm in Rosignol.
“The doctor did not finish the (death) certificate because he said that he is not satisfied. It is not completed, but he took samples to send overseas,” Roxanna’s mother, Avril Rigby told Kaieteur Sport when contacted yesterday.
The post-mortem examination was conducted at the New Amsterdam Hospital and whilst Mrs. Rigby did not attend, a family friend, Harrett Welch, who was present at the facility, reliably informed her of the procedure’s outcome.
Welch also spoke with this newspaper briefly yesterday and said that samples of the heart and other internal organs were taken for further testing. “He (Dr. Brijmohan) said that it’s (the cause of death is) unknown,” she confirmed.
Roxanna died enroute to the Georgetown Public Hospital from Forth Wellington Hospital in the vicinity of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice. She had complained about not feeling well the Tuesday before she passed away.
The promising athlete had developed bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea before further cries of pain in her upper left leg and lower right foot had enveloped her mother, who took her to Forth Wellington where she awaited transfer.
“She was talking to me all the time on our way, then I saw this look on her face like if she was smiling.
She asked me ‘mommy how far we deh’ and I told her Number 28. She said ‘ok’ and I just see her head go right back,” Mrs Rigby had related last week about the last moments with her daughter.
The 18-year-old Rigby of 161 Public Road Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice was one of three children for Avril and Ovid Rigby. Her other siblings included a younger brother, Oquana Rigby and an Antigua-based sister, Onika.
She was born on April 21, 1991 and last represented Guyana at the Inter-Guiana’s Games in Suriname last September as a member of the national junior volleyball team. She was a member of the Athletics Guiana Games’ team in 2008.
Roxanna had dominated junior sprint events locally for three straight years at the Athletic Association of Guyana and Schools’ levels. She is the national junior 100 and 200 metres champion at both levels of local competitions.
The body of the late Roxanna Rigby will be available for viewing at her home during 11-12pm tomorrow before moving to the playfield for a one-hour sports event. The Funeral Service is to commence at 2pm and burial at 4pm.