55-y-o man dies after falling from ladder during severe squall

The news that a linesman died yesterday after falling from a ladder during the squall that brought unusual winds across Jamaica has left residents of Portmore, St. Catherine, in deep sorrow.

Dead is 55-year-old Devon Cunningham.

The STAR understands that Cunningham, who was a contractor for a utility company, was reportedly running a wire at the time.

Yesterday, sections of the island were impacted by heavy winds and rain.

The Met office later informed that a large area of showers and thunderstorms had created squall-like activities.

A squall is a sudden increase in winds and is often associated with thunderstorms and can bring strong winds, heavy rains, thunder, and lightning.

Cunningham's death has left persons in mourning.

A gaming vendor for more than a decade in the Cumberland community said she knew Cunningham to be experienced and that he may have underestimated the strength of the wind.

"It even lick over [shipping] container so you can imagine what it would do to the ladder. He should have just come down, but maybe him did up deh already and could move," she said.

A groundsman at a nearby school said the winds were powerful.

"It break a tree over there [school] in two, it was rough" he said.

Another friend of Cunningham told The STAR that he heard he fell and hit his head.

"Is a hard drop, especially with that breeze. I hear say him lick him head and probably his neck break.

- Andre Williams

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