Mystery surrounds the death of a 39-year-old man, who family and friends claim fell ill immediately after drinking a milk-based product from a store allegedly located in the Half-Way Tree area.

According to reports, late last month, Ricardo Hyman, who was also hearing impaired, was walking near the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre with his friends, when he drank a milkshake allegedly purchased in the area.

Hyman's sister told THE WEEKEND STAR that right after drinking the product; "He began to sweat heavily and brought it right up back, fell to the ground and then started to have seizures."

She said his friends, who are also hearing impaired, quickly carried the limping Hyman to a nearby medical centre. He was later transferred to the University Hospital of the West Indies for treatment.

She said when he was taken to the hospital, he was sedated by doctors. After being in a coma, a few days later, he died.

"Once they sedate him, he didn't wake up. The incident happened on a Thursday and by the Tuesday he died. The doctor said he had high blood pressure and was brain dead, and not breathing on his own. They also said that he got a minor stroke and it got severe," she said.

no allergic reaction

The grieving sister said Hyman did not have a history of epilepsy or an allergic reaction to dairy products.

Although upset and confused, the family has no intention of having a post-mortem done to determine the cause of death.

"Not that we are not curious, we are, but at the same time it might stir up some things like probably the hospital is at fault or something, and we'll get angry and upset about it," the sister explained.

Ricardo, who worked as a bag packer at a supermarket in the Corporate Area for some 20 years, was described as "very quiet and always smiling," by co-workers.