Pregnant woman suffers multiple electric burns

Oct 11, 2015 News

Fingers of blame are pointing at a police rank as a pregnant woman is nursing second and third degree burns to 25 percent of her body at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Burn victim: Lukeisha Clarke

An unconscious five months pregnant, Lukeisha Clarke of lot C Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) for burns she sustained to her back, butt, legs and head just after 2: 30 hrs yesterday.
She was eventually transferred to the GPHC.
Reports are that the woman, a vendor, was outside of a dance at Pouderoyen, when a police patrol arrived on the scene. Their objective was to enforce the 2:00 hrs curfew. However, after being met by some opposition from patrons, one of the ranks discharged a warning shot into the air. That warhead hit an electrical wire that was above Clarke’s stall and a fire started.
Before Clarke could have moved out of the way the wire had already landed on her person burning her severely. “People came running in me yard shouting Debbie come quick; Clarkey dead and I started to holler,” her mother, Debbie Stephens, recalled. The mother said that by the time she had run out of her home, her daughter had already been transferred to the WDRH.
“When I got there doctors were around my daughter. She back burn up, and dem had to shave out the front of she head. She was hollering then she was transferred to GPHC,” a visibly shaken Stephen said.
Medical professionals confirmed that the woman is stable but nursing second and third degree burns to her body that will require surgery. Around 15:30hrs, yesterday the doctors were awaiting advice from a senior surgeon for directives on how to proceed.
Up to press time the woman was scheduled to undergo an ultrasound to determine the well-being of the foetus. The rank who discharged the round is said to be in police custody as investigations continue.