By Barbara Morris
Some weeks ago, there was a terrible accident in one of the Merrick Boulevard stores. The store has a loft-type area, the floor of which gave away as one of the men worked there. He fell a long distance to the floor below and since he was alone in the store, gravely injured, he had no immediate way to call for help.
By chance, (or more likely, by help from above), Mrs. Bess De Betham (office manager to council member Juanita Watkins), decided to go into that store to inquire about a possible purchase.
As she entered, seeing no one, she called out, “Hello! Is anyone here?”
The answer she received was weak and very pained. “Please help me!” She ran to the spot from where that plea had come. Then she saw the victim of that fall lying in such a pool of blood that she thought he might be bleeding to death. A very prompt call to 911, and an equally prompt response from emergency units got him stabilized enough to take him to the hospital. His back had been broken. His blood loss had been great. He needed extensive hospitalization and, even now, is still in the recuperative stages. He is, however, alive, and on the road to recovery and very grateful to this caring lady, Bess De Betham, who just happened to go into that store in his particular time of need. All Concerned
