‘Outrage over death of firefighter’

Mar 10, 2025 News

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—family blames piss-poor service at GPHC, calls for independent probe

Kaieteur News- A 27-year-old member of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), succumbed to injuries sustained while battling the recent fire at Mae’s Schools in Subryanville on March 5, 2025 and his family is blaming the poor healthcare at the country’s premier hospital, while calling for an independent investigation into the matter.

Fireman 1871 Voshaun Manbodh, a resident of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, died on Saturday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) around 23:18 hrs. Manbodh served in the service from February 2023 and proved himself to be a dedicated and courageous firefighter. He was on duty last Wednesday when a fire broke out at the school at approximately 7:45 hrs. While battling the blaze, portions of the building’s roof and wall collapsed on him, resulting in severe neck injuries that impaired his motor functions. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

However, his family has expressed grave concerns and dissatisfaction regarding the medical care Manbodh received after being admitted to the hospital. They claim that improper treatment and a series of failures at GPHC led to his health deteriorating and ultimately, his death. In a statement issued on Sunday, the grieving family demanded an immediate investigation and for persons to be held accountable for the alleged lapses in care. The family detailed several incidents that occurred during Manbodh’s hospitalisation. The family explained that on March 6, an MRI was conducted on Manbodh, showing no signs of abnormalities and he was observed to be in a stable position. However, the family stated that   his condition progressively worsened in the following days due to “delayed medical interventions, inadequate monitoring, and critical lapses in care.” The family also noted that despite the severity of his injuries, Manbodh was placed in the general Male Surgical Ward, where he did not receive specialised neurological care.

“Despite requiring urgent neurological evaluation, his MRI scan was painstakingly delayed, initially scheduled for 1:30 PM at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital but postponed due to poor preparation by hospital staff. When they finally attempted to take him for the scan after 2 PM, there was a last-minute failure to properly sedate him, leading to further delays and distress,” the family explained in their statement.

Another troubling claim from the family involved the hospital’s mishandling of Manbodh’s physical restraints. They emphasised that the hospital staff attempted to restrain Manbodh using, “only two pieces of strings tied to his hands,” and loosely tied his legs, despite his unstable condition. Manbodh was described to be in distressed throughout the process.

Additionally, the statement revealed that Manbodh’s mother was informed by another patient that he had fallen from his hospital bed. However, when she arrived at the hospital, she was not informed of the incident by medical staff. “Shockingly, when she arrived at the hospital, staff downplayed the incident; not mentioning anything to her at all and instead stated that he was behaving aggressively, leading to haphazard attempts at restraining him using only two pieces of string,” the family stated.  Despite the family’s repeated attempts to ensure proper care for Manbodh, his condition continued to worsen, and he passed away. “Mr. Manbodh’s mother repeatedly expressed concerns about his lack of proper restraint, hydration, and medical oversight, yet her concerns were either ignored or inadequately addressed, “the statement added, “These serious lapses in basic medical care contributed significantly to his worsening condition and ultimate deterioration and death. After hours of suffering and repeated delays, Mr. Manbodh passed away, and his mother was only informed at 11:18 PM that night. His untimely and preventable death, raise grave concerns about the standard of medical care, hospital protocols, and emergency response procedures for injured service members.”

Independent probe

Contacted by Kaieteur News for a comment on the claims by the family, Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran, confirmed that an investigation had begun. ”First of all, an investigation has started. The family made some claims we have to review whether their claim is factual or not. We have put together a group of independent doctors outside of Georgetown hospital to review their claims and that investigation has commenced. After the investigation is completed and the findings, then necessary actions can be taken. If anyone is culpable or what, or if it’s not people culpable, it’s just whatever action can be taken.”

Meanwhile, in a formal statement the GPHC extended its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues, and the nation on the passing of “the heroic firefighter who sustained injuries in the line of duty and was receiving medical care at our institution.” “We honour the immense sacrifices made by our nation’s servicemen and women and stand in solidarity with those mourning this tragic loss,” the statement read.

According to the GPHC, at this time, “we will not speculate on the circumstances surrounding his passing. However, we assure the public that GPHC remains steadfast in its commitment to the highest standards of medical care. Our institution has a strong track record of successfully treating and discharging servicemen and women injured while carrying out their duties.”

The hospital stated that in response to concerns surrounding this case, it has launched an immediate investigation, led by a panel chaired by a senior clinician from outside the institution. “This panel comprises both external and internal medical specialists to ensure a thorough and objective review. We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates as the investigation progresses. Once again, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family of the fallen firefighter and to the wider community affected by this loss,” the statement concluded.

Manbodh’s bravery

Additionally, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn in statement, assured that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of Manbodh’s death and the injuries resulting from the incident. He acknowledged Manbodh’s bravery stating, “Fireman Manbodh proved himself to be a dedicated and courageous firefighter. At just 27 years old, he risked his life to protect others, a testament to his unwavering commitment to public service. His passing is a great loss to the Guyana Fire Service.”

Minister Benn also expressed the ministry’s full support for Manbodh’s family, vowing to stand in solidarity with his loved ones and colleagues. Acknowledgment was also given to the two other firefighters who were injured during the fire. Sub-Officer, Ian Burnette, Sub-Officer Dwayne Waldron, and Fireman Jouner Morrison were successfully treated and subsequently discharged.

(‘Outrage over death of firefighter’)

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• firefighter, GPHC, MRI scan, Outrage, physical restraints

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