Eric Resse, who was out snorkeling with friends north of the island of Caye Caulker, was rescued from the sea after going missing on Saturday afternoon.
Police say that Jack Burnette, 55, of San Pedro Town, told them that he and three other men – Kenneth Cox, Gary Paumgargmar and Resse – had gone out on a snorkeling trip, but after they returned to the boat at around 1:40 p.m., they realized that Resse was not with them. They went to the police and an immediate search was launched with the Coast Guard and Belize Dive Service, but Resse was not found.
On Sunday afternoon, March 20, Resse was rescued from the mangroves across from the Split in Caye Caulker by a passing tour guide and brought to the police station.
He told local media that he had been taken under by the riptide near the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and could not get back to the boat, and was forced to float and try his best to get back toward Caye Caulker.
Resse reported that he was able to get over the reef and swim toward Caye Caulker, where he was picked up in the mangroves. Apart from having swallowed a large amount of sea water and being dehydrated, he was otherwise physically fine and returned to San Pedro Town, where he was staying, later in the day.