Beryllium fire survivors return home after US treatment

The two remaining survivors from the Beryllium garage fire are back in Jamaica after receiving extensive treatment in the United States.

The men, Richard McPherson and Fabian Brown, arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport this afternoon.

Stephen Joseph, co-founder of the Crisis Support Charity and the Brain Foundation of Jamaica, said they were transferred to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where they will continue treatment.

Joseph expressed gratitude to the medical personnel who worked to save their lives, given the extensive burns they sustained.

“This is one of the most ambitious rescues ever undertaken in the Caribbean in terms of the success. And hospitals around the world and universities are studying the success of the outcomes… in terms of logistics, coordination, patient care. And so we're very happy that we were able to execute this with our team,” said Joseph.

“To see these guys going on the aircraft, I just see and witness a miracle before us because they were really in a bad shape. And if they never leave Jamaica, we all know what that would be like. And so we're grateful to God for sparing these gentlemen's lives… while we are happy, I know it's a bittersweet type of situation; we would have lost one person. Well, condolences go out to the family,” he further said.

In May, there was an explosion and fire at a garage facility adjacent to Beryllium’s compound on South Camp Road in Kingston.

Four persons sustained injuries, with one dying shortly after the tragedy.

The three others were subsequently airlifted to the US, with one of them returning about two weeks ago.

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