Daring Rescue at Sea; A Couple and Their Infant Son are Saved

We begin tonight with a daring rescue at sea that saved the lives of three persons, including an infant.  A family of three was stranded at sea on Tuesday evening when the kayak they were travelling in capsized off the coast of Caye Caulker.  While leaving the island, tour guide Antoinne Parham observed at a distance what appeared to be a log in the water. Upon closer inspection, he was shocked to discover two adults making a frantic attempt at swimming to land with a toddler in hand. Parham and his passengers immediately sprung into action to bring the family aboard their vessel. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

A daring rescue at sea on Tuesday afternoon was captured on camera. Antoinne Parham, a tour guide in training, was on his way back from Caye Caulker along with a group when they came across a child and his parents stranded at sea.

Antoinne Parham

On the Phone: Antoinne Parham, Tour Guide

“We were on a day trip from Caye Caulker. We had a day trip in Caye Caulker. Our trip was done and we were headed back to San Pedro. On the way back we were just observing the water to look for logs or whatever it is. Then from a far, I get to notice, from about five hundred yards away we saw some floating object. So, we thought it was a big log that we could haul it out. But when we got closer we could actually observed that it was actually humans”

The parents and their infant were attempting to get to a nearby island from Caye Caulker in a kayak. The vessel capsized several miles away from shore. The family attempted to swim back to where they left, while the child was being carried by his father.

Antoinne Parham

“The lady told us that her baby. She want to save her baby. So that is when we looked over the right and we saw the man and the baby and that is when we went and rendered aid to them. It is what we would do for any people or anyone that would ask to render aid. I feel great because it could have been any one. It could have been us. It could have been my kid. It could have been your kid. It could have been anyone. And, to help someone in that kind of situation I feel great. God just send us like an angel at the time.”

The child was immediately wrapped in a blanket by someone onboard the boat. Parham says he has spent enough time on the water to realize that anyone can find themselves stranded at sea within the blink of an eye. His advice is to be prepared for the unexpected at all times.

Antoinne Parham

“You always have to prepare for the worst disaster ever you know. Anything could go wrong when you are out there. So, you always have to be prepared you know for everything. Like you asked, the weather is ok, but if it is too choppy, with a kid it is not really, I wouldn’t go out with my kids, even if it is choppy. I don’t mind by myself yes. And I hope anyone out there who come across anything like this, don’t leave people out there. It could be a family member or anyone. Put yourself in the same shoe and do the good work.”

While the rescue was successful, the question is whether or not the parents were acting responsibly by attempting to cross over to the next island with their toddler in a kayak. Reporting for News Five I am Paul Lopez