ONE of four men injured in an explosion and fire at a garage on South Camp Road in Kingston, adjacent to courier company Beryllium Limited, has died, another remains in a local hospital, while two have been airlifted to the United States for treatment.

Update on the victims came late Thursday following a well-coordinated operation including medical personnel, representatives of the Burn Foundation of Jamaica, and Guardsman Beryllium.

The garage manager, a member of the Beryllium operations team, an air conditioning technician, and a welder were injured in the fire. In a news release on Thursday Beryllium announced that one of the victims had died.

“It is with profound sadness that we confirm that one of the individuals injured in the incident — an external contractor performing work within the garage facility — has unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” the Beryllium statement said.

Jamaica Observer sources later identified the man who succumbed to his burns as Richard McQuire.

The two victims sent overseas, Damian Walter and Richard McPherson, were taken by ambulance from Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) — where they had been admitted —to the Norman Manley International Airport where an air ambulance was waiting.

Deputy chairman of the Guardsman Group, Nicholas Benjamin, in confirming that two of the injured men had been sent overseas for treatment, said the other surviving victim continues to receive care locally.

Responding to questions at the airport, Nicholas Benjamin underscored that getting the injured men the care they need in the shortest possible time gives them the best chance at survival.

“Our staff is our fundamental obligation, and looking out for their well-being is our primary duty,” he said. “As I have learned over the last day and a half, the turnaround time for burn victims in particular is critical. To be able to get them out quickly, I think, is the most important part.”

He pointed out that, “You can get them to a great facility [but] if you do it too late it won’t work out the way you want.”

Nicholas Benjamin said despite suffering third-degree burns, the smiles on the faces of the two injured men as they were boarding the ambulance was a source of strength for him.

“To see them in high spirits, to see them [being] positive, allows me to be positive and maintain a high spirit as well. It is difficult for them, it’s difficult for us to see, but seeing the positivity in them helps us.”

Meanwhile, founder of the Burn Foundation of Jamaica Stephen Josephs said one victim was being flown to UCSF Medical Center in California and the other to the JMS Burn Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which he described as one of the best burn centres in the United States.

Regarding the treatment the victims received at KPH, Josephs said, “I must commend the physician, the doctors, the hospital for the quick turnaround time in terms of information — because information is critical when you’re doing a successful transfer. And so I must commend the doctors and the team at KPH for doing this phenomenal job, that’s why we’re at this stage”.

Nicholas Benjamin also commended the staff at KPH.

“The medical team at KPH…reacted quickly and was able to stabilise them as best as they could to get them ready for the next stage of their journey and recovery, so we are grateful to the local team as well.”

In the meantime, Guardsman founder Kenny Benjamin, who was also at the airport, said, “We’re all about people because that’s what we sell, that’s how we make our money so this is so important to us — and I’m glad that we all gathered to make sure we can help them as much as we can.”

In its statement the company said the well-being, care, and recovery of those affected remain the absolute priority of Beryllium Limited and the wider Guardsman Group.

It outlined that since the incident it has been working closely with local and international medical professionals, emergency support teams, and the relevant authorities to ensure that all necessary medical, logistical, and family support arrangements are in place for those affected.

“Professional counsellors have also been engaged to provide emotional support and trauma counselling to members of staff affected by the incident at the location.

“Beryllium Limited remains fully committed to supporting all affected individuals and their families while continuing to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities and ongoing investigations,” the company added in the release.

Medical personnel attend to one of two men injured in a fire beside the Beryllium facility in Kingston, before leaving for the United States where hs is to get treatment.

Kenneth Benjamin (centre), executive chairman, Guardsman Group, gives the thumbs up to the two burn victims airlifted to the US on Thursday, while Nicholas Benjamin (right), deputy executive chairman, Guardsman Group; and Tom Baldwin, emergency medical technician from Trinity Air Ambulance, look on.