by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 23, 2023
The body of Elrick Lee Vairez, 31, was found on Tuesday evening, Febuary 21, near Montego Bay Caye, which is situated an estimated eight and a half miles east north-east of Belize City. Vairez went out to sea with another male individual a few days ago, and he was last seen walking on the island at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 19.
According to police reports, Vairez and Douglas Gill, 32, a Belizean fisherman, departed from Conch Shell Bay en route to the island onboard a boat named “Young Lion” last Friday, February 17. That was the last day that family members saw or heard from him.
Reports are that Vairez, who is the father of one child, lived with his mother at her home on Jasmine Street in the St. Martin de Porres area of Belize City. Our attempts to contact Idolly Vairez, the mother of Elrick, to find out more about her son, weren’t successful.
Official reports were that there was no sign of any visible injury on Vairez’s body when he was found. A post mortem examination has determined that Vairez died from “asphyxia due to inhalation of fluid” as a consequence of drowning. Apparently, police do not suspect any foul play.