A devastating incident occurred on the Essequibo Coast when a three-year-old girl, Alaia Etwaroo, lost her life after being crushed by a metal gate at her family home. The tragic event happened on Wednesday evening at approximately 17:20 hours at Lot 98, ‘EX Mouth’, Essequibo Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Alaia, a preschool student, was playing in the yard with her four-year-old sister, Sarfeena Etwaroo, when the accident occurred. Their mother, Saudia Hannif, a 28-year-old housewife, heard a loud noise and rushed to find Alaia lying on the ground with the metal gate on top of her. The gate, measuring about ten feet in length and six feet in height, had apparently fallen, striking Alaia and causing a severe head wound.
Despite immediate medical attention, Alaia was pronounced dead on arrival at the Charity Public Hospital. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the gate’s collapse.
This heartbreaking incident is the second reported case this year of a child being fatally injured by a falling gate in Guyana. In January, a seven-year-old girl, Kareena Persaud, died under similar circumstances in Corriverton, Berbice. These tragic events highlight the importance of ensuring safety measures are in place to prevent such accidents, particularly in environments where children are present.
