An agricultural officer collapsed and died during the Ministry of Agriculture’s commemoration of World Food Day (WFD) 2016 at the Caroni Swamp Visitor’s Centre on Sunday, in the presence of Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharath.
Now the sudden death of Hema Shelini Persad from a heart attack has left her Penal family baffled, with more questions than answers.
Mom Betsy Persad confirmed yesterday an autopsy done on her eldest child at the Eric Williams Medical Centre, Mt Hope, concluded she died from a heart attack.
However, the grieving mother contended that the finding was strange since Hema, 31, never suffered from any illness.
“This is so strange. I do not know what to think. I am baffled. She never suffered from hypertension or diabetes or anything connected with having a heart attack.
“She was a travelling officer and never complained of feeling sick or anything,” Betsy told the T&T Guardian following the autopsy finding.
She said on Sunday morning her daughter went to church at the World Outreach Pentecostal Church, Palmiste, returned to their home at Laltoo Trace, Penal, and helped in preparation of lunch.
Later that afternoon, Betsy said her daughter packed a picnic bag and headed to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary for the event around 2 pm.
Betsy said she was told Hema was frothing from the mouth when she fell off a chair. She said her death had brought back memories of the death of her husband, forest ranger Ajodha Persad, who collapsed due to smoke inhalation after going on a forest fire in Siparia some 15 years ago.
She recalled that his cause of death was also defined as a heart attack and she had to sue the State because the Forestry Division refused to compensate her family for her husband’s death. That matter was concluded in 2012 in her favour.
She said they had initially heard Hema may have been bitten by an insect while attending the Agriculture Ministry’s event at the Caroni Swamp Visitor’s Centre. However, she said the autopsy ruled out that consideration.