A man has been ordered to pay emergency medical technicians (EMT) Amir Daawuud and Joel
Ellis more than EC$500,000 in damages as a result of a 2020 collision which saw both men receive
spinal injuries.
On July 15 that year, Ellis and Daawuud were driving an ambulance from the Sir Lester Bird
Medical Centre when Renaldo Seaton, driving a car belonging to Juann Cornelius, veered into the
emergency services lane to overtake a line of cars and collided with the ambulance.
As a result, both EMTs had to be admitted to the hospital’s emergency room.
According to the doctor who assessed the two men, Daawuud, then 24, showed “classical signs”
of a “prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc” and needed further surgery to prevent a permanent
disability.
Daawuud testified that the injuries caused him to be unable to sit for long periods and affected the
way he works, including when having to perform CPR on patients, telling the court that he would have
to sit and try to tend to patients while in the ambulance.
Ellis’ injuries, according to the doctor, caused issues to his lower back with Ellis testifying that they
had made it difficult for him to breathe properly, and he found it challenging to move around, lift certain
objects and care for himself, including taking a bath.
While Daawuud remained employed as an EMT, Ellis was forced to retire as he was no longer
able to drive the ambulance effectively.
Ellis was also unable to continue driving off-road buggies which he did as a side business due to
the strain the rough roads and terrain caused to his back.
Seaton and Cornelius entered into mediation with the two EMTs and it was agreed that the claim
be dropped against Cornelius with Seaton accepting liability for causing the accident.