In a devastating turn of events, 16-year-old Sylvester Rodney, known affectionately as ‘Small Man,’ passed away at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Tuesday night—just two days before his scheduled medical evacuation to the United States. The autistic teenager from Roseau had sustained severe burns during a residential fire last Friday evening, compounding existing health complications.
Rodney, who resided with his mother Jasmine in Lower Roseau, suffered critical injuries to his hands and buttocks in the blaze. The incident occurred while the teenager was inside their concrete home and his mother was outdoors with relatives. Initial suspicions of neighboring trash burning quickly escalated when smoke was discovered emanating from the bedroom adjacent to the right-side neighbor’s property.
Family members immediately alerted an uncle stationed at the front gate, prompting the mother’s courageous rescue operation. The distressed teenager was brought into the yard where emergency cooling measures were administered with water. A nearby healthcare professional provided initial assistance before formal emergency teams arrived.
The St Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) crew was first to respond within minutes, followed shortly by firefighters from the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. By their arrival, the fire had already been extinguished and the injured adolescent moved to safety.
Rodney was wrapped in transparent sheeting—believed to be plastic—and transported to medical facilities. Beyond the burn injuries, the youth had been managing pre-existing kidney conditions that deteriorated post-accident. His medical regimen included medications for hyperactivity management, with additional prescriptions following the traumatic injuries.
The anticipated transfer to advanced U.S. healthcare facilities, scheduled for Thursday, was rendered heartbreakingly unnecessary by Rodney’s passing. The community now mourns the loss while grappling with questions about emergency response protocols and healthcare accessibility for disabled individuals in critical situations.