The tight-knit community of Greenfield, The City has been left reeling from the news that 72-year-old Winfield Welch, known affectionately as Klim to his neighbours, died after being struck by two vehicles on Wednesday night.
Welch was reportedly crossing the street at Salters Road, St George from his workplace, a poultry farm, when he was struck by one car before being hit by another under which he was pinned. He was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services used hydraulic rescue tools, also known as jaws of life, to free his body from beneath the vehicle.
Members of Welch’s community have expressed shock and sorrow at the sudden loss of a man described as generous and dependable.
Esther Padmore, his neighbour and close friend of 34 years, spoke of their long-standing relationship: “He never treat me bad. I got confidence in him. I care about him as if I born him.”
She added that she could trust Welch implicitly, even with financial matters and access to her home.
“I could call he from home and give he $200, send he out, he will go, and come back and he ain’t giving the change to nobody. When I come home, I can leave he in my house, shut my house,” she said on Thursday, adding that Welch often helped her with household chores and running errands. “That’s my boy you know, I miss him. He’s a person that was very helpful. I could trust him; my children love him. Everybody in the district love Klim.”
Welch, a former hotel industry employee who later worked at the poultry farm, was remembered for his helpfulness and kindness. The owner of restaurant Shaekayan’s recalled: “He would do anything for anybody, even if it meant leaving what he was doing to help you. Just the other day, I asked him to pull some grass outside my building, and he stopped everything to do it.”
Another neighbour said: “We lived in the same building for the past 10 years. He was always willing to lend a hand.”
Roland Fagan shared the deep impact the loss has had on him personally, noting that Welch was more than just a neighbour—he had become like family, often playing with his daughter and offering support to anyone in need.
“It’s a big loss. He was 72, still very productive, and always helping people,” he said.
Welch is survived by one daughter and two grandchildren, one attending university and the other at Queen’s College. As the community grapples with his loss, many are calling for increased road safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“We can’t bring him back, but we can at least slow down on these roads,” Fagan said. “Let’s all take our time so everyone can get home safely.”
(LG)
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