Director of Sport expresses sadness at blind cricketer’s passing

Aug 03, 2015 Sports

In a release, Director of Sport Christopher Jones said, “The National Sports Commission regrets to inform the nation of the passing of Gordon Sandiford, member of the Guyana Blind Cricketers Team.”

Gordon Sandiford (News Source)

“On Tuesday 28th July 2015 Gordon Sandiford left Guyana as part of the Guyana Team to participate in the Blind Cricketers Tournament in St Lucia, on Friday 31th a scheduled match between Guyana and Windward Islands was canceled due to heavy rain on Thursday afternoon and through the night. As a consequence the team was invited to go on tour of the Rodney Mall and then the Pigeon Island beach to swim which was the overall consensus of the players. At the beach Gordon Sandiford, a B2 (partially blind) player “encountered difficulty” and had to be helped out of the water and was frothing through his mouth and nose, he was not talking and breathing.
The paramedics after performing on him felt a pulse and immediately transferred him to the ambulance and left for the hospital. Gordon unfortunately passed away on the way to the hospital,” the release informed.
“Gordon Sandiford, 28, of Plaisaince Village East Coast Demerara leaves to mourn his father and three siblings. The National Sports Commission extend its condolences to the bereaved.
On Saturday 1st August 2015 the Minister of Education Dr. Roopert Roopnarine and the Director of Sport Mr. Christopher Jones visited the family to extend personal solace to the family,” the release concluded.
The government officials have been in contact with the team officials and are expected to inform on arrangements to return Sandiford’s body home for burial.