Quick action by the authorities may have prevented a disaster and saved the life of a man who trespassed and made his way to a jet fuel tank at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery yesterday morning.
The Princes Town man reportedly parked his car along the Southern Main Road and entered the Paria Fuel Trading Company compound through a breach in the perimeter fence. He then went to the top of the tank estimated to be between 50 to 70 feet high.
In a media release, Paria stated that it appreciated the quick action of the authorities in addressing a “trespass incident” at its operations.
The company stated that around 9.10 am, the Operations Department reported to the Health, Safety and Environment team that a man was at the top of one of the jet fuel tanks.
Paria stated that in accordance with its emergency response protocols, the Trinidad and Tobago Police and Fire Service were immediately notified. The ambulance service was also contacted, along with the man’s relatives, who were on site as a rescue operation was launched.
The release stated, “Paria’s HSE and Security teams, working with the Trinidad and Tobago Police and Fire authorities were successfully able to bring the man down from the tank at approximately 10.55 am.”
Guardian Media understands that the ambulance took the man to the hospital and he was expected to be interviewed by the police. —Sascha Wilson