With the departure of wound management specialist Dr. Wolfgang Spangenberger from the Island weekend before last, Bermudians were left under the care of just one general surgeon, a source has told .

That, the source said, meant that had there been a bad car accident, with three or four people needing life-saving surgery, ?they would have died?.

The weekend of September 4 and 5 ? the weekend Dr. Spangenberger left ? the source said, there was just one general surgeon on the Island ? Dr. Terry Elliot. All other general surgeons were off the Island and unavailable for any emergencies.

No surgeons licensed to put in pacemakers were on the Island that weekend, the source added.

?The Bermuda Hospitals Board?s (BHB) requirement of the surgical fraternity is that there be two general surgeons on the Island at all times,? BHB CEO Joan Dillas-Wright said on Tuesday.

?Currently, there are three general surgeons in Bermuda. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, over this particular weekend there was one surgeon on the Island ? this is a highly unusual situation.

?In extreme situations, there are other resources we can draw upon within the community to ensure patients? needs with respect to surgery are met.