A tragic incident took place at the National Aquatic Centre, where Joel Adams, a 14-year-old student from Dennis Street Sophia Care Centre, succumbed to injuries following an accident during a swimming session. The young teen was reported to have suffered a fractured spine and blunt trauma to the neck, leading to his untimely death, according to the post-mortem results.
Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh performed the post-mortem examination, which clarified the cause of death. On the day of the incident, it was established that Joel Adams had joined a group of children from the Care Centre for a swim programme scheduled in the afternoon.
Miss Khemwatti Dasrat, the Caretaker of the Care Centre, recounted the moments leading up to the discovery of the accident. Shortly before 15:00 hrs, after hearing the whistle that signals the end of the swimming session, she witnessed the children exiting the pool. During this routine session, a swim coach noticed Adams performing a back-flick into the pool, which was immediately followed by a rescue operation by the on-duty lifeguard.
The lifeguard’s quick response saw Adams being retrieved from the pool and receiving immediate attention from a standby nurse. Despite efforts to stabilize him, the urgency of his condition prompted a call for an ambulance. Adams was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the medical facility.
Source: News Room Guyana