A fire in Paul’s Avenue on Thursday night destroyed the home of former national footballer George “Fatpants” Forbes and damaged several other properties, including the studios of Boom FM.
Forbes, 78, said that he lost everything after a fire broke out shortly after midnight.
An adjoining structure that houses High Voltage Mas tent, which was formerly a preschool, was also destroyed in the blaze in the heart of the city.
The building that houses Jujube bookstore and the studios of Boom Radio 106.8 FM and IK TV was also damaged.
The radio station said in a social media post that it will be off the air for the next few days due to the damage.
“We are working diligently to restore our signal and appreciate your continued patience and support during this time,” Boom FM said.
Meanwhile, Forbes said he was at home when the fire started, adding that he went to the hospital to conduct some tests and returned home around 1 p.m.
“That’s when I came back from hospital. I was inside there, I had a friend of mine, he passed by me.”
Forbes said that after his guest left, he fell asleep around 7 p.m., woke up at 10 and stepped out of his home and went to an area not too far from his residence.
He said he fell asleep again after returning home.
Then, shortly after midnight, he said that he was awakened to the smell of smoke coming from the bedroom.
“And then I see smoke coming from the bedroom. So when I sit down, I say, ‘Boy, I can’t go inside go scramble up nothing because I’m a sick man.’
“So I manage to crawl out, come out and hop go right up to the police station, and there is where I just tell them what happened – my house on fire,” Forbes said.
He said he was unable to gather anything and is thankful to relatives who offered him accommodation for the night.
“I spent the night there, I couldn’t come out because I can’t help no fire, so I stay at my base,” he said.
Forbes started his football career back in 1968 at the age of 21, playing for Somerset, a Sion Hill-based team.
He went on to play for Avenues, his home team and Eagles before making his debut for the national team, representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines between 1971 and 1973.
