Freeport fire claims life of St Ann's outpatient

AN outpatient of the St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital perished in a house fire at Freeport on Wednesday night.

Dhanpaul Mahabir, 58, of LP 51 Siewdass Road lived alone in a flat concrete dwelling house.

His brother Rajpaul Mahabir told the police he was having dinner around 8.15 pm on Wednesday when he was alerted to the sound of a cracking nature. He said the sound was coming from the rear of his property where his brother lived.

Rajpaul said he immediately responded and observed the structure situated to the western side of the property engulfed in flames.

Rajpaul said he tried to extinguish the flames without success. He managed to pull his brother from inside the burning building, but observed him in a state of unconsciousness and he eventually became unresponsive.

His body was taken to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital pending and autopsy in what is being termed an unnatural death.

The house was had no electrical connections, neither was it insured.

Acting FSO Seeraj and Couva fire officers visited the scene and investigations are continuing.