…18-year-old suffers asthma attack
A 53-year-old female passenger on board the MV Ma Lisha on Wednesday died while the ferry was in transit to Georgetown from Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini).
A statement from the Ministry of Public Works explained that the passenger, whose identity was not disclosed, was found motionless at around 06:15hrs.
After being observed sitting motionless in her seat, the crew members checked for a pulse, but could not find any. As such, the captain then proceeded to give CPR to revive the passenger, and she subsequently regained consciousness and was assisted by the crew to lie on a mattress.
According to the Ministry, the passenger was then continuously monitored, and after being observed impassively again, the captain informed the lighthouse and management of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) of the situation on board.
As a consequence, the T&HD management then contacted the Coast Guard for assistance.
The Coast Guard immediately dispatched one of its Metal Shark vessels to the MV Ma Lisha, which was one mile west of the sea buoy, off the Essequibo Coast. The Coast Guard vessel arrived at 08:40hrs, and the female was taken off the ferry.
Meanwhile, just hours before that incident, at around 22:40hrs on Tuesday, an 18-year-old suffered an asthma attack while on board the ferry.
The Ministry explained that the passenger, though asthmatic, did not have any medications in her possession. Nevertheless, it was explained that the crew rendered assistance by providing her with an inhaler and by giving her oxygen with a nebulizer.
The teen then regained consciousness at around 01:30hrs on Wednesday. She, too, was taken off the MV Ma Lisha by the Coast Guard for further medical assistance.
Following these incidents, reports began to circulate on social media by an Opposition Parliamentarian, alleging that there were two deaths on board the ferry, and that a faulty air conditioning unit was the cause. However, the Ministry has since rejected those claims.
“The Ministry wishes to make clear that there were never two deaths on the MV Ma Lisha, as well as there was no malfunctioned air condition unit. The Ministry is also urging persons to desist from rumour-mongering and spreading inaccuracies,” the statement outlined. A one-way journey with this new ferry can take as much as 15 hours.
The MV Ma Lisha had set sail on its maiden journey last month. The $2.5 billion vessel was built by the Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE).
