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‘I did not panic’
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 23, 2019
...Constable Grimmond says in recalling plane crash
POLICE Commissioner, Leslie James on Friday commended the efforts of injured police rank Mark Grimmond who, along with the pilot of a Cessna aircraft which crashed on Monday night on the West Demerara, survived the accident. The police stated in a release that Constable Mark Grimmond, whom it said is in high spirits and warded at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, is recovering well after suffering a fractured jaw and lacerations about the body. The pilot, Lincoln Gomez, also survived the accident.
Top Cop Leslie James interacts with injured police officer, Constable Mark Grimmond (GPF photo)
Police Commissioner, Leslie James (third from left) and other senior ranks at the bedside of the injured police rank (GPF photo) Deputy Commissioners Paul Williams, Maxine Graham , Nigel Hoppie and Lyndon Alves, along with the Force’s Public Relations and Press Officer Superintendent, Jairam Ramlakhan, and Force’s Welfare Officer Deputy Superintendent, Jewel Hayles-Sullivan, visited the injured policeman and offered him words of comfort and advice. The commissioner and
team, as well as the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Colonel (Ret’d) Enoch Wayne Gaskin, assured Constable Grimmond of their full support and commended him for his bravery and heroic acts. “You have displayed much bravery and you will be commended after your full recovery; if wasn’t for you, we would not have known about the whereabouts of the crash; you are a hero, you are brave and God be with you,” the top cop said to Constable Grimmond. James also urged the rank and his wife, who was
there at the time, to continue praying and never hesitate to call and ask for any assistance. Constable Grimmond, who is stationed at the Eteringbang Police Station, while relating his story, said that while the plane was in the process of downing, he pulled his seatbelt as tight as it could have gotten and that was one of the reason he survived. “While the plane was in the process of downing, I did not panic, I kept my composure and pull my seatbelt as tight as it could have gotten; as the plane fell into the bushes and after the impact, the deceased, which was in the plane at the time, came into direct contact with me and I pushed the body off as the plane came to a halt,” Constable Grimmond said. “After that, I tore my shirt and wrapped it around my
injured face and proceeded to kick open a window and while exiting, I suffered more injuries about my body. As I got out of the plane, I used my police belt to climb a very huge tree to see if I would get any signal; in the process, I used my earpiece and after finding signal as my phone battery was approaching low, I called my Sergeant and my wife and told them of the ordeal,” he said. Constable Grimmond said that even though he was never trained to shoot distress flares, he would have looked at several videos, causing him to assist the pilot in doing such. Commissioner James said that all ranks working at interior locations will be trained by experts to handle any similar situation, especially as it relates to the shooting of distress flares.
Relatives, friends weep as pilot’s body arrives at Ogle AMID tearful moments at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport on Friday afternoon, the remains of Captain Randy Liverpool, the pilot who perished in the Cessna 206 aircraft accident at Eteringbang in the Cuyuni/ Mazaruni, were recovered and brought to the city. The body arrived at approximately 13:45hrs, when family members and colleagues were present to re-
ceive same, and offer moral support, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said in a release. The umbrella aviation body said inspectors, along with an investigator from the Guyana Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Unit, were at the crash site to begin their investigation into the fatal accident. The Domestic Airways Cessna 206 aircraft, bearing registration 8RGHB, crashed upon
Relatives and friends of the late pilot were emotional when his remains arrived at Ogle (GCAA photo)
The late Captain Randy Liverpool approaching the Eteringbang airstrip at approximately 17:45hrs on February 21, 2019. The death of Liverpool has sent shockwaves throughout the civil aviation fraternity, including the GCAA. Captain Liverpool worked with the GCAA as an Air Traffic Controller before pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot. The GCAA said it extends its condolences to the family, friends and the aviation fraternity on the passing of Captain Randy Liverpool. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” the body said.