Kerrisha visits man in hospital

The man who Frederick Smith Secondary School student Kerrisha Skeete assisted while he was having a seizure on a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) last week remains hospitalised.

And while Skeete, accompanied by her mother Kerry Skeete, was finally able to visit him on Tuesday, he was still not in the best of health and did not recognise her.

“He wasn’t talking. I don’t think he even remembers me. It was kind of sad seeing him. I am glad that I got to see him because I really wanted to and kept wondering how he was doing since I last saw him. I took some things for him that he needs at this time,” the schoolgirl told Barbados TODAY.

The gentleman’s close family friend, Carrol Medford, who described Skeete’s unselfish actions as “a great effort” said that the minibus driver transported him to the Maurice Byer Polyclinic in St Peter, before he was rushed to the QEH after suffering further seizures.

“He doesn’t know anybody right now and we got to see what will happen after this because he had seizures after the one he was having on the bus. We have to wait and see what happens. He sat up and was drinking water and he ate just a little,” Medford said.

Last Tuesday while Skeete was on her way to school on public transportation, she rushed to the assistance of the passenger who appeared to be having a seizure.

During an interview with Barbados TODAY at the Trents, St James school last Friday, Skeete recalled that she “ran from my seat and I put him on his side and I waited for the seizure to be over”.

Medford said the man’s relatives were happy that the teenager was onboard the PSV and rushed to his side to help him.

“I am happy the little girl was on that van to save him somewhat because if he had just fallen flat no oxygen would have gotten to his brain so she did the right thing to put him on his side. That was a great effort and I feel good about that because if she wasn’t there he could have been worse, he might not have been able to be up today.

“At least she had some sort of love and some sort of consideration and she is a student. And I actually know her mother. I hear everybody talking about this girl that saved this fella on this bus but I didn’t recognise it was her until I saw Barbados TODAY and then eventually her mother reached out to me asking if she could go and look for him,” Medford said.

Meanwhile, Skeete’s heroic action has not only garnered national attention but Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has also taken notice.

The student is to be presented with the Barbados Bravery Medal for her unselfish act during this year’s Independence Day Parade.

She is expected to attend the event at Kensington Oval as Prime Minister Mottley’s special guest along with her mother and siblings. Skeete and her family have also been invited to attend a function at State House on Independence Day.

The 15-year-old student who will celebrate her birthday on Saturday was also invited to Government Headquarters on Monday where Mottley commended her unselfish actions.

The Prime Minister, who hailed the young lady as an example for young people across the island to follow, also encouraged the student to maintain her sense of caring and to pursue her goals of becoming a doctor.

Meanwhile, the fifth year student was also at the centre of attention today at Frederick Smith’s Independence Day celebration and awards ceremony when she was presented with a number of gifts from the school.

Acting fifth form year head Jacqueline Hinds who presented Skeete with a piece of artwork, described her as a model student.

“As we know the good Samaritan was a good man and you are a good student, a model student of this school,” Hinds said.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb