A routine stop at a Whithorn gas station turned into a nightmare on Thursday, Feb. 19, leaving a 40-year-old woman, identified by family as Dacia Forrester, clinging to life after she was doused with gasoline and set on fire. Relatives and charity organizers say she has extensive third-degree burns, and a South Florida air-ambulance crew is on standby to fly her to a U.S. burn center. The problem is not logistics, they say, but money, with a steep funding gap still standing between Forrester and a potential transfer.
Graphic cellphone video shows Forrester engulfed in flames, running across the forecourt as bystanders desperately try to put out the fire before she is rushed to the hospital, according to WPLG Local 10. Family members and the Burn Foundation of Jamaica say she suffered third-degree burns to roughly 70% of her body, and relatives have turned to crowdfunding, appealing for donations while doctors weigh whether an overseas transfer could improve her odds of survival.
Stephen Josephs of the Burn Foundation and Crisis Support Charity says Trinity Air Ambulance International in Fort Lauderdale has crews ready to move Forrester to a burn center in Georgia, once the bill is covered. Trinity Air Ambulance promotes rapid worldwide medevac services, and local reporting has pegged the cost of Forrester’s transfer in the mid-five-figure range, with organizers citing roughly US$55,000–$57,000. So far, only a fraction has been raised, and Josephs is urging the public to chip in to close the gap before the window for safe transfer narrows.
What Police Say
Westmoreland police have recorded statements from multiple witnesses and charged a 30-year-old pump attendant, Collate Swaby, in connection with the incident, according to WIC News. Investigators say a dispute over change at the pump spiraled into a physical altercation that ended with Forrester being set ablaze. A case file has been prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and police are asking the public to stop sharing the graphic video while the investigation plays out.
Burn Care Gap in Jamaica
Doctors and charity organizers argue that Forrester now needs highly specialized burn care that is not widely available in Jamaica, which is the driving force behind the push for an airlift. Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has pushed back on sweeping criticism of the country’s hospitals, telling RJR that Jamaica successfully treats many burn patients locally, but that the most severe cases sometimes require resources beyond what most facilities can offer. Officials and advocates say Forrester’s case highlights why a fully equipped, dedicated burn unit remains a long-term goal that has yet to be fully realized.
Legal Status
The pump attendant has been charged and, according to The Gleaner, has been granted bail with conditions, including the surrender of travel documents. The case is set to return to court in April. Investigators have taken statements from several women linked to the confrontation and are preparing their file for a ruling from the DPP, the paper reports.
In the meantime, Forrester’s family and local charities are pleading for both donations and prayers as doctors work to stabilize her. The Crisis Support Charity has posted a campaign page with details, and the family’s GoFundMe drive is linked in coverage by The Gleaner. Organizers say any contribution could help secure the airlift and lifesaving treatment. Members of the public are also being urged once again not to circulate the distressing video as the legal process moves forward.
