Copyright kaieteurnewsonline
‘Every second mattered’: Citizens risk life to rescue victims of deadly gas station bombing Oct 28, 2025 News (Kaieteur News) – Two public-spirited heroes are being hailed after springing into action during the deadly explosion at the Exxon Mobil Service Station on Regent and King Streets on Sunday night that claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured several others, including two children. Taxi driver Andre McRae recounted the terrifying moment when the blast erupted. In a short video interview with Prime News he recalled. “I was buying gas and the lady said wait for her she going and buy chicken and while I park and waiting the lady gone for the chicken within 10 seconds that was it.” The man said everything changed within seconds there was a loud explosion and sections of the gas station burst into flames. “I feel my car go up in the air like nearly 20 feet and come down back on the road. I almost fell out because the door fling open by the impact. Another car that went near raise up like 10 feet off the road and pitch away to the back,” he recalled. Mc Rae said that he recovered from shock almost immediately and sprang into action. “I had to pull myself up out the car and hustle to help rescue the people in the other car. I take out the children them and call for people, calling for ambulance when I look around nobody was there. The gas station was empty; everybody run away left me alone. There was nobody there to help me; I alone had to help the people them and I was the man take care of the fire and everything.” He recalled having to act fast so as to rescue the occupants of the burning car. “I take the youth man out first, then the little girl when I take she out she fall on she face. When I pick her up she like she was almost dead, the mother went and take out the other little girl out the car and then another guy come and was helping to take to safety as I take care of the fire,” Mc Rae said. The taxi driver recounted that subsequently a pump station attendant came to his aid and gave him two [extinguishers] to help to put out the fire and the fire department arrived at the scene about 20-30 minutes after the explosion. The man claimed that he helped to battle and put out the blaze before he collapsed and passed out. He said that he is not sure when the ambulance arrived but he was taken to hospital. He said that he was treated, released and instructed to return for further observation. “Them [healthcare workers] aint tell me yet what is wrong but I still feeling lil inside pain and burning on my body.” The man said that his vehicle was severely damaged. He said the police have not told him what will become of it. “The police didn’t tell when I can get my car but I don’t want that, that is too much drama for me to take on that. I cannot take that car… It was just me alone represent the gas station because when the bomb fire off I was sitting in my car.” Richard Braithwaite, a vendor who also came to the aid of injured persons at the gas station recalled hearing the loud explosion. “That was no gas bottle that explode; that was a bomb. Me ears ring off, I does sell by Avenue of the Republic close to by Church’s. When I hear the sound I jump pun my bike and ride around King Street. When I reach in the gas station I see a car smoking and the gas station full of smoke.” Braithwaite said he ran towards the car to check to see if anyone was trapped inside. “I check to see nobody aint in the car. I check back up the road. I see a lil girl couple feet away from the car. I pick she up while walking with she, when I look back and see two other lil children a boy and a girl. The boy hold on to the girl…her face full with blood.” He said he struggled to get persons to stop and render assistance to the injured children. “To get them in the car now is another problem nobody ain’t really want carry them in them car…A lady in a Vezel carry the lil girl and another guy he carry the other two lil children in he car. That’s three kids,” the man recalled. Braithwaite said he looked to render assistance to other injured persons. “I went back by the King Street side and I see another lady hollering for her foot, that was the grandmother. I fetch she out to by the cambio. The police come while I fetching the lady. I tell them carry she at the hospital; they said they can’t carry she to the hospital they got to work with some protocol. So, I left and went back to my stand…” The vendor is convinced that based on the impact the explosion could not be related to a gas bottle. “That thing can rock all them building till, gas bottle can’t do like that. I hear and feel that sound till by Avenue of the Republic.” Braithwaite said. Andre Mc Rae, bombing, gas station, Richard Braithwaite
