Assault Victim Flown To Jamaican Hospital
The Police have confirmed that a 38 year old man who had been the victim of an assault was flown out today [June 30] to University Hospital of the West Indies [UHWI] in Jamaica for further medical treatment after being in the Intensive Care Unit of King Edward Memorial Hospital. A suspect in the assault has been arrested in connection.
Around 9:30am yesterday [June 29] Police received a report of an assault. The Police say the victim, a 38 year old Devonshire man, was assaulted with a “pointed object” in the Langton Hill/North Shore Road, Pembroke area by an “individual apparently known to him.”
As a result he sustained a wound to his upper torso and was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance for treatment. He was in the Intensive Care Unit in stable condition before being flown overseas today to University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica for further medical treatment.
The suspect, a 43 year old St. George’s man, was also treated at KEMH for facial injuries. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the matter. Inquiries into this incident are ongoing and Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with any information to contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.
It is not clear at this time why the victim was flown to Jamaica, rather then the standard US East Coast hospital that locals are generally airlifted to. There is no official explanation given, and one will not be forthcoming due to privacy issues.
Update July 1st: The fact this victim was flown to Jamaica rather then the standard procedure of using American hospitals is of interest to some locals which could be considered of greater interest as UHWI, where the victim was flown to, is suffering electrical issues. Jamaican press report that UHWI confirmed yesterday that it has been forced to postpone elective surgeries until at least next Monday, due to problems with its power supply. News reports also state that the hospital is presently without air conditioning.
