GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The five Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers who perished when their helicopter crashed last week, died from multiple injuries and severe burns, according to the results of the autopsies.

The autopsies were done by government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh and witnessed by a senior official of the Guyana Police Force on Monday. Two servicemen, co-pilot Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson, survived the December 6 crash in the Essequibo region.

According to the autopsies, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shahoud and Warrant Officer Class 2 Jason Khan died from multiple injuries, while Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles’ body was completely burnt and had to be identified through his name tag on a part of his uniform that was intact. His cause of death was given as burns.

Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton’s body was also burnt, but he was identified through his “upper front dentures,” the police said in a statement. It gave his cause of death as burns along with Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome.

“DNA samples were taken from the burned victims and their relatives. Their bodies were thereafter handed over to the relatives for burial,” the police said.

The cause of the crash is still to be determined as the incident is under investigation.

READ: Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, police lead probe into fatal helicopter crash

The funeral for Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles will take place on Wednesday, while the others will be laid to rest on Friday.

On Monday night, family members, friends, and dignitaries gathered at the Guyana National Stadium, to honour the five GDF members who died in the tragic helicopter crash. The event was held under the theme “Honouring Our Fallen Heroes,” and the government has since announced that the Eccles to Great Diamond four-lane highway would be renamed in memory of the soldiers.