Elderly Rose Hall man dies in early morning blaze

A house fire during the wee hours of Sunday morning claimed the life of elderly Rose Hall resident Cecil Ferdinand.

When the flames were extinguished, the remains of the 78-year-old man were found, burnt beyond recognition, in the bedroom section of the 8 x 12 foot concrete structure.

Natasha Williams, Ferdinand’s daughter and caretaker told SEARCHLIGHT that she had last spoken to her father on Saturday, when he brought some eating utensils to her.

According to Williams, the elderly man, who was showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, told her that he was going to die and wanted her to have some of his things and she should give away his clothes.

The grieving daughter said that was the last time she saw him alive.

Williams said that she would miss her father very much. as he was very good to her and her children.

SEARCHLIGHT visited the burnt-out structure and at the scene met Ferdinand’s brothers, Raymond and Carlof, along with another daughter, Rosalie.

Carlof told SEARCHLIGHT that when he arrived on the scene around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, the house was still ablaze. He said he and others tried to put out the fire, using water from a nearby tap.

He said while attacking the fire, there was a strong stench of burnt flesh, so he asked bystanders if his brother was in the building and he was told no.

To his dismay, when the fire was finally extinguished, Ferdinand was found lying on his back with his face, chest, belly and feet burnt badly burnt.

Ferdinand, who had been a contract cane cutter in Barbados in his early years, also lived in Trinidad and may even have children there, according to Rosalie. He was a regular fixture at funerals and Unity Labour Party (ULP) meetings throughout North Leeward.

“Right now I am feeling real sad and I will miss my father,” Rosalie said. Nothing was salvaged from the fire.