Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterA FAMILY of six was almost crushed to death on Thursday night after relentless rainfall associated with Hurricane Dennis sent chunks of river stones unto their property.
Vas Williams, who resides in Norris district, Yallahs in St. Thomas, his wife and four children, narrowly escaped death as the Little John Sawyer River that runs adjacent to their home, swelled, overran its course and sent rocks tumbling and waters hurrying to their house.
Mr. Williams told The Sunday Gleaner that at about 8:00 p.m. Thursday, he heard a thunderous rumbling, moments later, water started to pour in through his windows.
Mr. Williams said, without time to think, he gathered his wife and children, the youngest being three years old, took his mattress off the bed and used it as a ladder to get unto a section of their roof, where they spent the rest of the night being battered by the persistent showers.
"Everybody have to pack up on the roof, right now mi cramp up," uttered Mr. Williams, as he recalled the horrific episode. It was then he realised that the river had risen to about six feet and had taken with it the rocks that lined its bank.
His home for more than 15 years was flooded and partially covered with stones of all sizes, but his woodwork shop located next to his house suffered the greater damage. Only the shop's roof was clearly visible, as machinery and other equipment he valued at $3 million were buried. It was a scary sight.
The horrendous ordeal left Mr. Williams shaken. "A first mi eva si anything like this and if the river did just give me a signal, mi neva woulda tek the risk," he said, while dressed in muddy clothes that confirmed his tale.
AN UNPARALLELED SIGHT
Percival Dixon, 46, a friend of Mr. Williams, witnessed the dreadful occurrence and described it as an unparalleled sight. "I was born and raised here and mi neva see nutten like this. It was terrible and mi neva want to see nothing like this again," he stressed.
Another resident, Pauline Brown, who also lives along the river's bank, lost over 200 chickens and a goat to the roaring river. She told The Sunday Gleaner that none of the chickens, which were swallowed by the rapidly-rushing river, were found but the goat was later discovered down stream under a branch. Carl Watson, who also lives along the banks, lost furniture, clothes and his farming equipment.
The residents are appealing for help from the relevant authorities. "We want money or any kind of assistance," Ms. Brown pleaded.
