"We were at the pipe catching water but we did not have any cart to carry the water. At the same time I saw 'Shorty' coming and I said to my sister, 'Like how Shorty a come, mek him carry the water for us'. Him then jumped off his bicycle and pulled out his machete and start chop," Shaday Wilson related.

"We ran into the bushes and mi brother drop and him start chop up mi brother then him turned to mi sister and start chop her up," said an obviously traumatised Shaday.

Her brother, 13-year-old Dwayne Wilson, a student of Hayes All- Age School, and her sister, 11-year-old Samantha Wilson, were both taken to the Lionel Town Hospital in serious condition.

Samantha was later transferred to the Mandeville Public Hospital.

The Lionel Town police are also alleging that the man, 55-year-old David Nugent, said to be of unsound mind, had chopped another man in the community earlier. The first incident was not serious and the man had already been treated.

The police have since charged Nugent with three counts of wounding with intent.