A man was killed instantly yesterday after a sign erected outside a church fell on him. He was later identified as John "Amigo" Matthews, 54, of Sawmill Avenue, Barataria.
Eyewitnesses told police that around 12.45 pm, as many parts of Trinidad experienced heavy winds, the sign for The Gate Church, which had been erected for over 20 years along the Eastern Main Road, Barataria, cracked at the base and fell on the man.
Mathews was attended to by a doctor who was driving along the EMR and saw what happened.
Workers at the nearby Cool Aire and Judy's Pet Shop told the media that as the doctor began administering CPR, an unmarked police vehicle stopped and also assisted.
Passersby and workers of the two businesses used their umbrellas to shelter the doctor and officers as they sought to remove the sign off the man and help him.
While the crowd gathered, a marked police vehicle was stopped and later escorted the man to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he died undergoing treatment.
Employees at Cool Aire said Mathews was called "Amigo" as he spoke a bit of Spanish. The men added that he was a "cool fella" who would do odd jobs in the neighbourhood.
Employees at Judy's Pet Shop said Mathews had moved into the area about two years ago.
"He living here about two years now. He would hustle little fruits and sell and was what you will call a 'go for,'" one of Judy's employees said.
A Cool Aire worker said he had been working at the business place for 24 years and the sign had been there since he had started. He added that it was not the fault of anyone but a tragic accident. The man said everyone knew Mathews and when the incident happened there was an outpouring of assistance .