Billy White Village, Cayo District, Thurs. Aug. 12, 2021– During an attempt to save a girl who was hanging onto a tree’s branch, a resident of Billy White in the Cayo District lost his own life.

Reports indicate that while 28-year-old David Klassen was fishing near the river on Thursday afternoon, August 12, he saw a little girl who was in immediate danger of drowning. The child was hanging onto a tree’s branch that hovered over the river. This prompted Klassen to run to the nearby home of fellow villager Miguel Tzul, to inform him of the girl’s plight. Together, the duo ran to the spot where the girl was last seen. Klassen, who had arrived first, immediately dove into the river and began swimming toward the girl.

While on his way across the river to rescue the girl, however, he was pulled underwater by strong currents and did not resurface. Other persons who went to the scene were able to assist the little girl, but, according to those who witnessed the incident, Klassen had disappeared under the water. His disappearance triggered an extensive search led by members of the Belize Coast Guard, along with the Spanish Lookout Emergency Response Team and residents of the Billy White Village. It was not until 1:30 in the afternoon that Klassen’s lifeless body was discovered.

Notably, Klassen lost his life during an act of heroism on his (and his father’s) birthday.