Sad start to 2025 for Richland Park family

by Christina Smith

While Vincentians were spending quality time with family and friends to start the new year, a Richland Park family was dealing with the shock of losing one of their own as a result of a fatal fall.

Cornelius Warren, age 75, died after sustaining a head injury while walking along the Richland Park main road.

On the afternoon of January 1, he reportedly slipped, fell, and struck a wall as he was approaching the area of Mousey Supermarket. He was unconscious as a result of the fall and a passer-by attempted to render assistance.
An ambulance was called to transport Warren for urgent care, however he was pronounced dead at the scene by the District Medical Officer.

A relative of Cornelius, Godfrey Warren, described the incident as unfortunate, and said it is a blow to those in the Richland Park community who were close to him.

“I look at him like a genuine person, funny … all in all, he was a good man. He was always willing to assist anybody in any weather, whether a small child or a big person. We are all coping by the grace of God.”

He explained to SEARCHLIGHT that Warren was on his way back to the village from tending his garden when the incident occurred. Godfrey said the family has not yet been able to piece together exactly what led to Cornelius falling. He said the elderly man had not complained about illness and although he used to consume alcohol, he ruled out the possibility of it being related to alcohol intoxication.

“He had his cutlass and the broom in his hand and a bag, so he was coming from his garden. I understand that he wasn’t drunk. One of the guys who was on the scene said he saw when [Cornelius] passed, shout him and then he heard a noise. When he looked back, he saw that he fell down,” the relative continued.

“When he fell, the ambulance, police and everybody came up. But he died on the spot.”

He described Cornelius as a “man of jokes” who was known to talk in parables when he wanted to share a lesson with friends.

The police say a post-mortem examination will be done to ascertain the exact cause of death. The funeral for Warren is scheduled for early February.