Teen critical after co-worker turned on ‘Cement Mixer’ unaware he was inside

An 18-year-old labourer at Forrester Lumber and Building Complex is battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after a co-worker turned on a Cement Mixer unaware that the teen was inside the machine cleaning it.

According to the Guyana Police Force, the incident occurred at about 15:15h on Thursday.

Inquiries revealed that Ricardo Nandlall went into the Cement Mixer at his worksite at Forrester Lumber and Building Complex located at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD), to have the equipment cleaned. In the process, a 22-year-old ‘Mixer Operator’ who was unaware that Nandlall was inside the said Cement Mixer, turned on the equipment.

As a result, Nandlall received injuries to his abdomen and he started to scream. Several co-workers rushed to his assistance and pulled him out of the Mixer. They then placed him into motor pick-up # GPP 7825, which was driven by a co-worker and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated by a doctor and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient in a critical condition.

It was the Doctor who reported the matter to the police. However, he was not responsive to conduct an interview which prompted a visit to his worksite.

As of Saturday, Nandlall’s condition remains critical.

The 22-year-old co-worker who turned on the Cement Mixer was detained by the police. Commander Errol Watts has indicated that the co-worker remain in custody, on the prisoner bench, as they await updates on the victim, “given at the moment his actions were not malicious but suspected to be that of negligence”.

Several CCTV cameras were seen inside and outside the Forrester Complex and statements were taken. Investigation still in progress.