Teen dies due to injuries after fall while playing football

– mother suspects foul play, calls for thorough investigation

A 19-year-old miner died days after he allegedly injured himself while playing a game of football at Armu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Dead: Rickford Newton

The teen, Rickford Newtown, of Byderabo, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was injured on July 3, 2020, but succumbed to his injures on July 8, while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The young miner and breadwinner of his family, according to reports, attempted to get the ball but reportedly fell, thus causing injuries to his head, neck, spine, arms, and legs.
He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was examined and admitted by the doctor on duty. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the GPHC, where he remained until his demise.
Following his death, an autopsy was performed on his remains, which proved that he died as a result of a fractured spinal cord. The post-mortem was conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday.
However, his mother, Carol Newton, when contacted told Guyana Times that she was at home on July 3 when her son’s employer brought the news that the young man was injured and had to be hospitalised.
“When I went down to the hospital, I see my son lying on the bed panting for breath, so I asked the doctor what wrong with he and it was then he told me that his spine broke, his neck broke, his hands were also broken,” the mother stated.
She was then informed that he was being transferred to Georgetown to receive further medical attention.
The grieving mother related that seeing her son dying right in front of her was a scary experience. In tears, she noted that losing her son has left an empty place in her heart as the minutes go by.
“Right now, I am struggling because I only working with the Government for $25,000 for a month, and that cannot do to maintain the family… it was him we depended on,” the grieving mother cried.
Meanwhile, she is holding out that her son’s death is questionable, claiming that he might have been beaten to death after he asked for money owed to him.
“I stand up here in the name of God, my son ain’t supposed to die like this. I need justice for my son. I stand up here in the name of God, my son ain’t supposed to die like this. I need justice for my son,” she repeated.
When contacted, Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Linden Lord explained that the police have since launched an investigation into the accusations made by the now dead teen’s family. (Shemar Alleyne)