Child suffocated, died after swallowing thumbtack at school

Mekhi Rodrigues, a Grade One pupil who attended a private school at Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD), died from suffocation after a thumbtack was stuck in his throat.

Police Headquarters said a post-mortem examination was performed on the child’s body by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh on Friday at the Ezekiel Funeral Home.

Dr. Singh retrieved the metal tack which was stuck in the boy’s throat.

Police said the child was playing with chalk on October 29. Shortly afterward, he reportedly went to the Headteacher complaining of his difficulty breathing. The child was rushed to the West Demerara Hospital and though the doctor on duty attended to him, he passed away subsequently.

The child’s mother, Rebehak Rodrigues, a 37-year-old cosmetologist, was informed of the incident, and the matter was reported to the Police.