‘Slingshot' seriously hurt during Mash parade
Kaieteur News
February 25, 2007
Sustaining three broken bones in the lower back after a dray cart fall, overseas-based Guyanese artiste John ‘Slingshot' Drepaul still managed to prop himself up and wave to his many fans at Friday's massive Mash Day celebrations.
The singer\entertainer fell from his gaily decorated dray cart as he attempted to wave to GINA's Niaz Subhan in front of Guyenterprise, at Irving Street , and broke the bones in his lower back.
In a bedside interview at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, Drepaul, amid painful gasps, gave a blow by blow account of the Mash Day mishap.
As crowds cheered wildly, the native of Corentyne, East Berbice , stood up on the horse drawn cart adorned in a purple king's robe and matching headwear. Shouts of “Slingshot, we love you” rang out as Drepaul flung decorated beads along the route, much to the delight of those watching.
At around 15:00 hrs, after the dray cart had halted amidst cheering crowds, he stepped to the rear to acknowledge waving fans when the horse, startled by the raucous noises, reared into the air, throwing the singer flat on his rump.
Yesterday, he related that he lost his speech for over five minutes as searing pain ripped through his entire body. Fearing he had broken his spine, he said, he wriggled his toes and was elated when they moved a little.
As the fans flocked the fallen hero, his bodyguards, Laurex John of the Federal Management System and ‘Terry' of the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, flew to his aid and assisted him onto the cart.
Though it may have appeared to onlookers that he was maybe limping, he was actually being hoisted by the guards, since his feet could not give him justice.
As his lyricist, ‘Ingrid,' and Stanford, from his Mash camp, placed ice on and supported his lower back, the pain stricken entertainer, determined to please his fans, moved on down the line to loud screams from his supporters.
A cameraman, Noel Harlequin, alerted the Police to his predicament, and they created an avenue through the crowds so that Drepaul could get free access to the National Park.
“I was experiencing intolerable, excruciating pain. At times I felt as if I was going to faint, but my fans mean more than life to me; so, as my dear friends supported my back and sides, I hoisted myself with both hands to avoid laying any weight on the injury.
“It was terrible, especially when I removed a hand to wave to the fans, but I endured it all; I wanted my fans to be happy”.
Right through the interview, his bedside telephone rang off the hook with fans, other supporters, and the hotel's management, wanting to make sure he was alive and well.
On Mash Day, Drepaul still paused to give his customary salute to the folks at the GDF Camp Ayanganna, and he even squeezed a smile through his apparent pain.
After the wild cheering from those in the National Park, the Police stopped all traffic as he was whisked from the cart and escorted by Pegasus's manager, Bert Plas, to Dr. Balwant Singh's Hospital.
He has been ordered to keep off his feet for six weeks. Drepaul says that he could be using the time to get work going on his 2008 ‘Mash Fever' costume and float launch.