The man who was found dead in his home at Spring Ghut on October 8, 2013 may have bled to death from an open wound he refused to seek medical attention for, a man close to the deceased has informed Virgin Islands News Online. Photo: uptownmagazine.com

Mr Dennis McDonald was a long-time close friend of Mr Charles McVicar and was one of two persons who made the discovery at Mr McVicar's Spring Ghut, Nothingham Estate home on Tuesday October 8, 2013. Photo: bvi.gov.vg

The discovery returns one’s memory to September 2, 2013 when Mr Glen Shariff Maddox was discovered dead in his home at Sabbath Hill, Tortola. Photo: Hezikiah Maddox/File

A bloodied and lifeless Charles McVicar, 77, was allegedly discovered in a chair in his bedroom by friends who went to check on his condition after they were unable to reach him via his cell phone.

“It was a very ugly scene when we discovered him, it was like a bloody massacre in that house, blood every corner, everywhere was blood, you would not believe that it was a result of that open wound. Walking in the house you would think otherwise that the real thing,” Mr Dennis McDonald told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview.

He recalled that on Monday October 7, 2013 he had received a call beckoning him to get to Village Cay as his friend had fallen and had sustained a gaping wound over his left eye.

“It wasn’t the first time he had fallen, he fell several times before and burst his face, several times before,” recalled Mr McDonald. On arrival at the scene, Mr McDonald said Mr McVicar was bleeding profusely from the fresh wound and he pleaded with him to go to the hospital.

“I told him that wound needed to be closed and the bleeding was too much but he insisted that he clotted very fast and he was not going to the hospital.” According to the friend, Mr McVicar was kept as a patient at the Peebles Hospital several times before for similar injuries, “and he hated it. He hated staying in that hospital. Didn’t want to go no matter what we said he wasn’t going because he knew they would keep him there a day or two and he hated it,” said a saddened McDonald.

Left with no other choice, Mr McDonald said he trailed Mr McVicar to ensure he was safely in his Spring Ghut, Nothingham Estate home. “I told him again that wound had to get closed up but again he said he would clot very fast.” He recalled that they spoke for a while and convinced that he would be ok, McDonald said he left.

He said on the way out he saw one of Mr McVicar’s neighbours and had alerted him of Mr McVicar’s condition and asked that he keep an eye out for him. “His phone in the house had a problem because of its location. He would have to leave the bed room to go out into the house to get to it if you call so I guess that was challenging because we made several calls and it was ringing out all the time,” explained Mr McDonald.

The friend said he attempted to call Mr McVicar again on Tuesday morning but the phone was engaged. “Well I thought he was on the phone because it was engaged but little did I know that someone else was calling at the same time.”

On the said Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 4 P.M., McDonald said he and another friend decided to check on Mr McVicar but were greeted with a shocking discovery. “When we got there he was in a chair in his bedroom, his arms down dead, there was blood everywhere, it was like a massacre in there, blood all over.”

Mr McDonald said the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) was called in and after three and a half hour of intense investigations he and his friend were cleared to go as there were allegedly no signs of foul play.

This was confirmed by Public Relations Officer of the RVIPF, Ms Diane Drayton, yesterday evening October 14, 2013 when contacted. “Nothing suspicious. An autopsy is to be scheduled to determine cause of death,” Ms Drayton told Virgin Islands News Online.

This news site has been reliably informed that two of Mr McVicar’s sons are in the territory awaiting the results of the autopsy and the release of the body to complete funeral arrangements. Other close family members are also expected to to arrive soon, this news site was further told.

Mr McDonald also complimented the police officers who he said impressed him with their timely arrival at the scene and the professional way they handled the scene and those who discovered the body.

“In the twenty odd years that I have lived in the Virgin Island it was the first time I had to deal with the police and I have to give it to them they were very impressive. They were very human and professional. I must give it to them,” he told Virgin Islands News Online.

See previous article posted October 8, 2013

Man found dead in house at Spring Ghut

Information reaching Virgin Islands News Online is that a man was discovered dead in a house at Spring Ghut yesterday afternoon, Tuesday October 8, 2013.

The man has been identified as Mr Charles McVicar, 77.

Information Officer of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Diane Drayton confirmed the discovery.

"I can confirm a report of a sudden death at a home in the area," Ms Drayton told Virgin Islands News Online when contacted.

The discovery returns one’s memory to September 2, 2013 when Mr Glen Shariff Maddox was discovered dead in his home at Sabbath Hill, Tortola.

Mr Maddox was the proprietor of ‘Sunny Shaved Ice’, a mobile shaved ice and ice-cream truck that made regular stops around Tortola.