— at Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, Region 9, Guyana, South America.
GPF | Police in Regional Division #2, in collaboration with the Region’s Fire Service, are investigating an early-morning fire that resulted in the death of Susan Bibi LaCruz, a 32-year-old housewife and her son, Ilyas Wilson, a 9-year-old pupil of Good Hope Primary School on the Essequibo Coast.
At about 05:00 hrs on the morning of Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the devastating fire completely destroyed their two-storey wooden and concrete building in a fenced yard at Lot 12 Good Hope, Essequibo Coast.
Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn, visited the fire scene on the morning of the same day.
According to initial information, Susan Bibi LaCruz was suffering from a ‘stroke’, and she was occupying the upper flat of the two-storey house where she lived with her husband Andrew Wilson, a 68-year-old Mechanic, and their three (3) children, ages 13, 12, and 9.
The lower flat of the house was occupied by Andrew’s 56-year-old brother, Linden Wilson, his 45-year-old wife, 20-year-old daughter, and two-year-old granddaughter.
According to Linden Wilson, at about 05:00 hrs this morning, he was in the lower flat with his family members when he heard his 13-year-old nephew (Musa Wilson) call on him and say there was a fire in the upper flat.
He said he saw Musa Wilson run down the stairway, alone. Linden Wilson said he and his family members ran out of the lower flat, and he immediately went into the upper flat and saw a big fire in the middle of the house. His 12-year-old niece was in the middle room, and he took her out of the room and sent her out of the building to safety.
Linden Wilson said Susan Bibi Lacruz and Ilyas Wilson were in the front bedroom located on the north-western side of the upper flat, and due to the intense heat from the fire in that area, he could not get to rescue his sister-in-law or his 9-year-old nephew.
As the fire spread, Wilson was forced to flee the building, which went up in flames. Water Tender #88, headed by Sub Officer Akeal Persaud and twelve (12) firemen, responded to the scene, went into action and extinguished the fire. However, the fire had already destroyed the building.
The burnt remains of the two victims were seen on the ground to the north-western side of the house. Their burnt remains were removed and taken to Suddie Public Hospital’s mortuary, awaiting PME.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
