One Dead, Seven Rescued In Search And Rescue  

Today, one man is dead and several other persons were injured after a search and rescue operation between Turneffe and English Caye was carried out. This afternoon around 2 pm, the Belize Coast Guard received several alerts of a boating incident in the area. In these reports, they were notified of eight people in need of assistance and six coast guards were dispatched to the scene. In an operation taking just under two hours, seven people were rescued and one body recovered. We spoke with Melissa Jones, Operations Officer for the Belize Coast Guard for more information.

On the phone:

 

Mellissa Jones, Operations Officer, Belize Coast Guard

“Concerning today, we received a call at 2:38 p.m. from on e by the name of miss Briseidi Tzul  reporting of a capsized vessel with eight individuals on board between the area of Tarpon Creek and English Caye.“

 

Britney Gordon

“So in this event, how many people were injured or were able to be rescued?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“After we received a call from miss Tzul, our quick response team departed our headquarters at roughly 2:40 p.m., and while making their way, they made contact with a sailboat by the name of Naidelyn, who had then, who was en route to Belize, who was the first to respond to the scene, and they had rescued four individuals and one motionless body. The crew then informed our commander of our quick response team that there were three more individuals in the water and due to the weather challenge of the wave conditions, they couldn’t have  rescued those remaining three individuals. So with that information, our quick response team proceed in the general direction that they had informing them where there has rescued the four individual first and our crew  rescued the three remaining individual at approximately 3:58 p. m.  Roughly two miles east of Sergeant Caye and Pouch Caye.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So how many people were dispatched on this search and rescue?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“Our quick response team is consist of six individuals. “

 

Britney Gordon

“Okay, and how long did this operation take?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“I would say this operation takes under two hours.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And you mentioned that one motionless body was recovered. Can you give me any updates on that situation?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“When it comes to that one motionless body, all I can provide you with is that  the body was retrieved from the sailboat, who had rescued the four individuals first, and we then ferried that body along with the remaining crew. So it’s a rescue of seven more individuals, and we brought them to our headquarters where the body is being handed over to the police.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What are the states of the other people that were rescued?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“There weren’t much injuries. There were one individual by the name of Mr. Jason Magana that was dehydrated and so our medic transported him to the KHMH.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Is there any updates on what the cause of this incident was?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“At this moment, no, I don’t have any other information concerning what caused it. The vessel to capsize.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So we just, are waiting on a police report to hear about the, the man that was motionless upon rescue?”

 

Mellissa Jones

“ Yes.”