The body of a 22-year-old man from Hattieville was found submerged in a pool this morning. He's been identified as Nigel Welch, and although it appears at this time that he drowned, his family is convinced that someone killed him.
We understand that at around 11:20 this morning, Hattieville Police received a call for help at Malic Sand Pit, which is right across Hattieville Boom Road from the Belize Central Prison.
When the officers arrived, they found Welch's body submerged in a man-made pool, which is about 100 feet wide, and approximately 15 feet deep. Preliminary reports to police are that Welch was along with 3 other men at the Sand Pit. He allegedly jumped into the pool and didn't resurface. He was submerged for an extended period of time, and when he was found, he was already dead.
There are no preliminary indications suggesting foul-play, but his family is convinced that he didn't just suddenly drown. They strongly believe that someone else was involved or responsible for it. This afternoon, our news team found his grieving loved-ones who shared the reasons why they don't believe this is simply a case of drowning. Here's what they had to say:
Reporter
"How long as he submerged under water?"
Shakeem Richards, Friend of the Deceased
"They say about approximately about 45 minutes to an hour."
Reporter
"At what state did you guys pulled him out of the water in?"
Shakeem Richards, Friend of the Deceased
"His face was down in the ground already. We grabbed him by the foot."
Reporter
"This is a very remote area for anyone to come fishing, swimming or recreating."
Shakeem Richards, Friend of the Deceased
"As far as I can see no fish is in here, not even belam."
Reporter
"Did anybody try CPR when they did bring him up?"
Shakeem Richards, Friend of the Deceased
"Yeah they trid CPR, but I said he is already under approximately an hour, it doesn't makes no sense they perform CPR. He already died."
Floreth Requena, Aunt of Deceased
"I got the call from my sistren' that Nigel is dead and I flew up here, I drove about 80 miles per hour and when I reach the pier he was down there for like an hour and a half, still in water. If I didn't put it on facebook live, I wouldn't have gotten help from some divers, Hattieville divers, some coast guard. We ask for help. The police came and they didn't want to go in the water. They say the water is deep, but when the youth went into the water, they found him right at the front. So what happened, a foulplay must have taken place."
Reporter
"Tell us about your nephew?"
Floreth Requena, Aunt of Deceased
"My nephew is not the trouble-type, he doesn't even have a record."
Reporter
"What type of person was he?"
Floreth Requena, Aunt of Deceased
"From work to home, home to work. He doesn't even come out his house. I feel real depressed, I feel like he got chance out of his life and that is just my belief."
Uncle of Deceased
"They chance my nephew, but God is not sleeping, everything will be left in God's hands."
We'll have the post mortem result next week.
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