A critical medical milestone was reached Tuesday night as Dacia Forrester, the Westmoreland entrepreneur severely injured in a gasoline attack, successfully underwent surgical removal of burned skin cells at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay. The 42-year-old victim now faces an urgent need for blood donations while her family continues racing against time to secure $55,000 for specialized burn care in the United States.
Despite the grave circumstances, family spokesperson Carol Blackwood Hewitt maintains cautious optimism regarding public support for her sister’s medical fund. “The doctor called me this morning and confirmed they successfully removed all burned skin during surgery. Now she primarily needs blood,” Hewitt stated, emphasizing the ongoing medical requirements.
In a parallel development, judicial authorities released another Forrester sister without charges after nearly a week in detention. The sibling had been arrested February 19 following the violent incident at a Whithorn gas station last Thursday, where a pump attendant allegedly doused Forrester with gasoline and set her ablaze after a physical altercation.
Hewitt attributed the release to security footage evidence that exonerated her sister. “The police reviewed the complete video surveillance and found no grounds for charges,” she explained, noting that a judge had ordered release if no charges were filed by Tuesday morning.
The family now actively campaigns for public release of the security footage to counter damaging rumors suggesting Forrester instigated the violence over a romantic dispute. Hewitt vehemently denies these allegations, stating: “At no point was my sister involved in any argument concerning a man. These false narratives are directly impeding our fundraising efforts for her medical evacuation.”
Financial contributions for Forrester’s air ambulance and stateside treatment can be directed through the Burn Foundation of Jamaica at 876-344-7028, via crisissupportcharity.org, or through the dedicated GoFundMe platform at gofund.me/ccdabce42.