BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A local cricket umpire lost his life yesterday (Apr. 28) after falling off a ladder while trying to pick coconuts in his backyard.
Dead is 71-year-old Abraham Richardson of Newton Ground.
In an interview with this publication, Richardson’s wife Bernadine gave an account of the horrific incident.
“After five yesterday morning he went to pick some jelly. He went up on the ladder and about 15 minutes to six the neighbours started shouting call 911. I was in my bed. I rushed outside and he was just lying there and he had a very bad gash at the back of him.”
She added that many calls were made for an ambulance while her husband lay unconscious on the ground but there was no response.
“Another thing is that many times we phoned for the ambulance. What is 911 for? Isn’t it for emergencies? They however did not respond up to this time. My neighbours have a jeep and they had to pick him up and carry him to the hospital.”
Bernadine said she also tried to find out how her husband met his demise.
“When I came back from the hospital I went to see if I could figure out what happened. I think he hit the back of his head and did not regained consciousness. I did not actually see what happened.”
She then reflected on some fond memories of her husband.
“He was a top umpire. He was dedicated to his cricket…he loved his cricket. He was friendly. All the neighbours would tell you that. He was a very loving man; loved his family, his grand children and always wanted to make somebody happy and make somebody laugh.
“He was also a very dedicated sexton at church and he used to clean the cemetery. And anything they asked of him he was there at an instant.
“I don’t know how I am going to live without him. I loved him dearly and his memory will always be with me.”
