A doctor attached to the Belize Agriculture and Health Authority (BAHA) drowned in the Macal River on Friday afternoon.

Doctor Marcelino Sosa, 28, a veterinarian of Mexico, attached to the Cattle Sweep Project unit of the Belize Agriculture and Health Authority (BAHA) to test cattle for Brucellosis, was along with a group of fellow veterinarians at the Mountain Pine Ridge area taking photographs in the Rio On Pools in Mountain Pine Ridge about 4:30 p.m. on Friday when he fell, plunging 20 feet below into the raging river, which quickly swept him away.

His body was found about 18 hours later.

His companions said that they quickly reacted and began a search for the doctor. They were joined by other people in the area, but the effort to find Sosa was futile.

A search team was organized which ultimately led to the recovery of Sosa’s body. He was taken to the San Ignacio Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Doctor Mario Estradabran, who performed an autopsy on the body, concluded that the cause of Sosa’s death was asphyxiation by drowning due to mild head trauma due to an incidental occurrence.

After the autopsy, the body was handed over to Sosa’s family, who took him back to his country (Mexico), where he was laid to rest.