Reports are that 83 year old Canadian national, Mildred Ilene Lines who was part of a 25 member tour group, was paddling in a 14 foot canoe inside the Barton Creek cave this morning around 11:30, when the canoe crashed into a rock embankment and capsized. Lines who was not wearing the required life vest and helmet, lost her life while the other tourist accompanying her in the canoe was rescued. The group of tourists who are staying at the San Ignacio Hotel Resort, are all from Canada and have been in the country as part of a package deal sold and organized by Senior Tours of Montreal, Canada.

Michael Simmons, owner of Cayo Adventure Tours which organized the Barton Creek cave tour, confirmed with Seven News in a telephone conversation, that there were 25 tourists who made up the group of canoeists. Simmons said that the group was divided into four smaller groups, each with its own guide. He said life vests were offered to all members of the group, but Lines was one of a few who refused to wear the vest. He said Lines and the other occupant of the canoe paddled ahead of the group against the Guide's instructions.

Police are investigating this tragic accident, the second tourist death in less than a month.