Autopsy to be done tomorrow on body of teen in ‘dutty wine’ dance
SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine – A government pathologist will tomorrow conduct an autopsy on the body of Taneisha Henry, the 18-year-old woman who died Sunday after participating in a “dutty wine” dance in Thompson Pen, here in St Catherine.
Henry’s boyfriend Cornel “Ziggy” Campbell, 21, a merchandiser of Hampton Avenue, Spanish Town, said at about 1:00 am on Sunday they both attended a “school uniform” party in Thompson Pen, just outside of Spanish Town, where his girlfriend got involved in a dutty wine dance, but suddenly stopped and leaned on the wall, after which she fainted.
Campbell said he threw a pan of water on Henry in an effort to revive her, but this was futile. She was pronounced dead at hospital. Henry said she had a wound to the forehead.
In the meantime, Spanish Town-based medical doctor Raymoth Notice said the possibility existed that Henry experienced dizziness as a result of decreased blood flow to the brain, which could have caused a blackout and subsequent trauma to the brain.
The dance involves the rapid rotation of the neck and bottom simultaneously.
“Doing this dance includes movement of the neck in a fast circular motion and if the blood flow to the neck is compromised it can cause serious (and) debilitating effects which can injure the vertebrae and cause cervical injury,” Notice said.
Dr Notice warned that people under the influence of drugs, ganja or alcohol should not engage in the dutty wine, as they could experience severe dizziness because of the impact of the decreased blood flow to the brain. “These people should avoid speedy movement of the head, especially circular movement that can affect the structures of the neck and consequently the brain,” said the medical doctor.
On Monday, Linda Henry, 41, mother of the deceased, said her daughter attended the Four Square Church of God at Dempshire Pen, Spanish Town.
“I just can’t get over her death. She was a churchgoer who loved to party. I used to tell her it (dutty wine) was dangerous and it could cost her life or damage her brain because I hear on the TV one day that it is dangerous, but she continued,” said Henry, while at the Spanish Town Police Station.