Home Attendant of Garifuna Heritage Dies After E-Bike Battery Fire at Work in Washington Heights, Manhattan

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Copyright 2023 by Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. “Tio Teo” or “T.O. Tayo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.

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Washington Heights, New York City – Mayuri Isabel Beneditt, a Home Health Aide of Honduran Garifuna Heritage, died along with her client, her client’s son and another unidentified man after a fire took place in her client’s Manhattan apartment on SUNDAY, May 7th 2023.

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The fast moving fire came from e-bike batteries, also known as Lithium-Ion Batteries, caught fire after an explosion in the Fourth Floor Apartment on W. 190th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue just before 1pm in the afternoon on a Sunday.

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The Home Attendant, Miss Mayuri Isabel Beneditt, was born in Tornabe, Honduras, with her father being from San Juan, Honduras or her mother being from Tornabe, Honduras.

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Mayuri Isabel Beneditt

(Photo provided by Family)

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According to the Gofundme Fundraiser for The Funeral of Miss Mayuri Isabel Beneditt, she leaves behind three children.

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I am told by a cousin of Mayuri’s that The Funeral for Mayuri will take place on SATURDAY, June 3rd 2023 from 4pm to 7pm. Mayuri was in her 30s.

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It will take place at the Manhattan Garifuna Church. 160 W. 146th Street, New York, NY 10039.

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Miss Mayuri Isabel Beneditt’s client was 94 Year Old Woman, Bertha Domenech Santiago. Both she and her son Luis, also died in the Fire.

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Local News Reports state that this marks 9 fatalities caused by the ignition of Lithium-Ion Batteries in New York City. These batteries are used for electric bikes (e-bikes), scooters and hoverboards.

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According to the FDNY, these deaths already surpass the number of fire deaths that took place in 2022.

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This Home Health Aide, a caretaker, perished after simply going to work.

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It’s probably worth mentioning that a significant portion of The New York Garifuna Population work as Home Attendants or Home Health Aides.

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I don’t have access to statistics, but a number of Garifuna Women in New York City work in that field.

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My mother was a Home Attendant, as well as assorted other relatives of mine. Incidents like this brings to mind risks of people who work as Home Health Aides or Home Attendants. Especially in light of COVID-19 and other Contagious Diseases.

It didn’t occur to me initially, but in recent years, I guess you could say that I am little more sensitive to the issue.

Teiba Ameragua (“Rest In Peace” or “Go Rest” in the Garifuna Language), Mayuri Isabel Beneditt.

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