On Friday, November 8th, 25-year-old Gustavo Lizarraga Jr., a Belizean laborer of San Pedro Town, drowned while fishing. The Police Department’s official report states that around 12PM, Lizarraga Jr., along with his cousin went south of San Pedro Town en-route to the Barrier Reef area, which is approximately one and half miles east of the shore to fish. They were without life jackets.
Reports are that while onboard a green Emotion brand kayak about 45 minutes into their fishing trip, water started to get into the kayak, which caused it to sink. Both men began swimming towards shore, but Lizarraga mentioned that he couldn’t make it, and so he stayed by the kayak, while his cousin swam towards the shore to seek assistance. Upon returning with help, his cousin observed the body of Lizarraga floating face down in the water. His body was retrieved and transported to the San Pedro Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic II where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
When at sea, island residents and tourists are reminded that life jackets are an important safety measure in case of an emergency.
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