Caveman Loney pours coal into a bag ready for resale. - Dwayne McLeod

For six years, Patrick Loney has lived in a cave.

The 49-year-old man has made a small cave in a section of Forest Hill, St Andrew, his home.

He was forced into this situation after his life stumbled upon several misfortunes. Through hurricanes, storms, cold and hot weather, Loney has remained tucked into the rock.

"Mi nuh waa live inna nuh cave but a jus' certain tings reach mi mek mi end up ya suh," Loney explained when THE WEEKEND STAR visited the place he calls home yesterday.

An old, torn mattress, supported by four concrete blocks and placed in a corner, a metal chair, an unusually black, old, handleless kettle, a few bottles of water and one and a half bags of coal complete Loney's furnishings.

Loney, after much deliberation, shared his sad story as he sat in his 'bathroom', a spot just in front the entrance to the cave where he strategically placed three pieces of zinc to provide some privacy.

The St Elizabeth-born man says he came to Kingston in 1978 and landed a job with a St Andrew family as their gardener. He worked for them until 1997 when he decided he wanted a place of his own to call home and relocated to Central Village in St Catherine.

However, his dreams only lasted three years as differences between himself and thugs from the community saw him fleeing the area.

After doing different kinds of odd jobs for three years and having no permanent place of abode, Loney said he again took control of the lawns of another St Andrew family and did so for one year.

In that time, he managed to get a driver's licence and even began operating a taxi with a friend's motor car.

There was one problem nonetheless, the family for which he was doing gardening duties told him they could no longer accommodate him at their home.

With nowhere to go, Loney said he decided to make the cave his home.

"Mi neva have nowhere fi go and mi see dis likkle spot so me just decide fi hol it. Me a country man eno, so mi know how fi manage hard life," Loney said.

Asked why his life story included no story of a woman or children, Loney explained that a deformed hand didn't make him a hit with the ladies

"A jus' so it go, mi feel lonely yes but mi jus' accept it," he said.

Loney's desire to work and determination, however, is truly admirable.

While living in the cave he managed to work as a taxi operator and save enough money to purchase a 1988 Toyota Corolla from his friend for $130,000.

However, after a few months, and being the victim of a number of robberies and a car accident, he was forced to park the car and find another means of surviving.

Now Loney has to rely on the sale of coal for money which he uses to buy food. "A my likkle food money dat still. Mi sell at least one bag per week," he explained.

He also took THE WEEKEND STAR team to an area just beside the cave where he recently started his own small farm where he grows pumpkins and callaloo.

While admitting that he sometimes feels like giving up on life, Loney said with a little help he will be sure to get himself back on track and even get a nice, comfortable home.

"Mi almost 50 now, suh a nuh nuttin if mi stay ya so 'cause mi nuh have much strength so mi coulda soon dead," he reasoned before adding:"Mi woulda love di likkle help still whether with the farm or with the car..."

Anyone who is willing to assist Loney can contact him on 396-3623.