The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CALVIN Brown didn’t hesitate when he saw 80-year-old Edna Tinubu lying in pain next to her vehicle after a violent crash last week.

As onlookers stood by — some recording — he rushed to help.

The retired nurse had reportedly slammed into a utility pole off Bethel’s Highway last Thursday and died in hospital days later.

Police did not report the incident and only confirmed the woman’s death after inquiries from The Tribune yesterday. 

Mr Brown, a Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine seaman, said he was on his way to work on Bethel’s Highway when he came upon the scene of a serious crash.

What he saw immediately alarmed him. He said a woman lay flat on the ground beside her wrecked vehicle, which had slammed into a utility pole.

“I just basically do what any person would do, any marine would do. I initiated first aid. I would have assessed the scene. I noticed that she had a deep laceration to her right leg, and bleeding was uncontrollable at the time,” he said.

“I made a makeshift tourniquet out of materials that were in her backseat, so I just tore it and tied around her leg to stop the bleeding.”

After urging onlookers to stop recording, Mr Brown called for assistance, and two men stepped forward.

He said he instructed them to keep Ms Tinubu elevated while he contacted EMS for help.

Even after EMS arrived, Mr Brown refused to leave her side.

“I held a hand through everything. I let her know that everything is going to be all right,” he said.

“It’s just something about this specific scene that touched me, because it could have been your mom, my mom and it really touched me.”

He said he followed the ambulance to the hospital, and when he later saw a flyer requesting blood for Ms Tinubu, he rushed to donate — only to learn she had passed away.

He called the moment heartbreaking, saying it initially made him feel like he had failed.

However, he said her family was grateful for his actions, and he now takes comfort in knowing he helped prolong her life, even if only for a few more days.

In a Facebook post, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force praised him for his heroic response, calling it a testament to the dedication and selfless service of the men and women committed to protecting The Bahamas.