The dreadful wind storm that many resident were calling a tornado, hit during a donation ceremony for an ambulance and fire truck to the West End community from the multi-billion dollar Ginn Company.
Scores of residents had gathered along with government officials and Ginn Company representatives for the much needed donations when disaster struck, putting the donations to use right away.
Cynthia Pratt, who was at the donation ceremony, spoke with media representatives at the Rand Memorial Hospital. Visibly shaken, she recalled the terrifying experience.
“It was very scary,” she said. “Minister Obie Wilchombe, myself and Dr Bernard Nottage came down for this event, and about a minute after I finished speaking, the winds picked up and before I knew what was happening, I could see people just, I mean being picked up like paper.”
She added that two officials from the Ginn Company were thrown across the tent, “maybe about five feet or so on top of another lady.”
“I saw when one of the speakers blew towards me and in seconds, police officers blanketed me right up,” she said. “I never experienced anything like this because it happened so quickly, but to see the response of the police officers in their professionalism and how they covered me so quickly. Some of them got injured covering me and I am so indebted to them and I want to publicly thank them so much.”
Thanks to the bravery of officers and medical officials, no minister was hurt during the ordeal.
“We thank God that all of us are still alive and there was no life lost at this point. You know what, that ambulance came at the right time,” she said. “Let me congratulate the medical staff for the super job they did. I mean they were just on the ball. Dr Nottage was just commenting on the performance of the medical staff and I want to publicly thank them and the police officers and all the people who really came together to do what they could to make life better for all of us out there.”
Eight persons were transported to the Rand suffering from varying degrees of injuries, while many more were treated at the West End and Eight Mile Rock clinics.
According to reports, two of the eight persons treated at the Rand were in serious condition, and one of them was an employee of the Ginn Company.
Dr Tamara Burke explained that though names could not be released, the victim with the most serious injuries was a 31-year-old female.
“There was one patient that suffered serious injuries, but has not been stabilised as yet, but arrived at our institution in a semi-conscious state,” she explained. “She is currently undergoing further diagnostic tests to determine the extent of her injuries.”
Up to press time there was discussion of having the lady airlifted to a Florida- based hospital.
When The Freeport News contacted the Freeport Weather Department shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, Chief Meteorologist Donna Duncombe explained that the strong winds experienced are common with major thunderstorms.
She added that the severe winds are commonly referred to as microbursts, which are strong gusts of wind that come down from clouds during thunderstorms.
Duncombe also noted that there was definitely no tornado activities in the area.
By: ANGELO ARMBRISTER, The Nassau Guardian
