7 News Belize

Man Missing, Feared Drowned
posted (July 15, 2013)
Tonight the search continues for Edwardo Dominguez – a Fisherman who is missing in the Bay of Sarteneja. According to our information, Dominguez along with another fisherman left Sarteneja around 10am on Sunday morning and was heading to Bacalar Chico when their boat capsized about 2-4 miles East of Sarteneja Village. Dominguez kept afloat on an icebox while his partner managed to swim to shore for help. When he arrived at the police station in the village, it was already 3 o'clock in the evening and by the time police and coast guard arrived in the area, Dominguez was nowhere to be found and all the search team saw was the icebox and the vessel. At this time the Belize Coast Guard has a search unit active in the area along with joint efforts by police and a civilian search party.

Lt. Greg Soberanis- Ops Officer, Belize Coast Guard
"Sarteneja, he said that when he capsized it was approximately three to four miles east of Sarteneja in that general area, so that is the area we are currently searching."

Reporter
"And it happened when?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"He said, based on the time of the day, it was probably about ten yesterday morning, he estimated that they capsized.

Reporter
"So they had been on sea for how long?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"He said after they capsized at about ten yesterday morning, he did not reach police station until about three yesterday afternoon."

Reporter
"But prior to that, they had been at see for how long?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"No, they were just making their way from Sarteneja to Bacalar Chico on that particular day."

Reporter
"So they had just gone out?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"They had just gone out, heading to Bacalar Chico area."

Reporter
"Based on what the investigations have unearth so far, what can you say, Coast Guard and Police, of course."

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"Well, the vessel was a white sail vessel with a 75 horse power engine, both the vessel and engine have been recovered but of course Mr. Dominguez is still unaccounted for at this time, so as I mentioned earlier we will continue our search efforts in seeing if we can find him."

Reporter
"Do authorities have any thing to suggest that this might involve foul play, or was it an accident at sea?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"I've spoken to the Sarteneja police and they have not indicated that at this time that there is any evidence suggesting foul play. At this moment in time we are treating it as an accident at sea and a missing person as well."

Reporter
"And Mr. Barahona, does he have any injuries on him?"

Lt. Greg Soberanis
"From what I've been informed by the police, no, just fatigue from the swim and the walk to the police station from where he came ashore."

Up to news time Dominguez has still not yet been found. In Soberanis' interview he mentioned that a veteran fisherman can survive being out in the waters for up to 72 hours.

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