A Williamsville man died this week when he was crushed to death by a falling gate.
Relatives of 64-year-old Prakash “Harry” Roopnarine said they are stunned by the tragic incident since the gate showed no signs of being a danger to anyone.
Roopnarine’s relatives said the incident occurred on Wednesday as he was leaving his niece’s Hardbargain, Williamsville home.
Roopnarine’s younger sister Vidya Sam told Guardian Media yesterday, that he returned to his Riverdale Road, Williamsville home following heavy rains and walked about 100 feet to his niece’s house to stay for a while.
Sam said, “He was a labourer in the village. He went to work but because of the weather he came back home and went to visit his niece. He would visit her two or three times for the day.” He told her he was leaving to go and check on somebody who owed him some money, and when he was leaving they said the gate fell on him. “Apparently, the gate came off the tracks and fell on him.”
Roopnarine’s sister said there was no indication that the gate was unstable.
She said it took the ambulance 15 minutes before they responded but her brother was unresponsive by the time he was taken to the nearest hospital.
Sam described Roopnarine as a helpful, fun-loving person who was the life of the party and liked to dance.
She said her brother loved music and was looking forward to turning 65 to collect his old aged-pension and to start planting his garden.