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Twin tourist tragedy

GeneralTwin tourist tragedy
Two tourists, an American and an Italian, drowned in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, near San Pedro, after they became separated from their snorkeling group, reportedly because of rough seas and strong currents.
  
Four tourists in all were separated from the main group of seven tourists who were on a tour of the reserve; two died and two were rescued. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, April 3.
  
One tourist was found midday, and the second tourist was found about a half hour later, at 1:10 p.m.   Both were found in the Shark Ray Alley area of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
  
The survivors were taken for treatment at the San Pedro Poly Clinic for dehydration and other conditions, and were admitted for observation.
  
The bodies of the two victims were taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic Morgue. They will then be taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, where an autopsy will be performed to confirm their cause of death.
  
Marcel Alamilla, tour guide, is captain of the boat, Cyclone, of Tsunami Tours of Caye Caulker, which took the seven tourists to the reserve. Besides the seven tourists, he had an assistant on board.
A fisheries officer on Caye Caulker told Amandala that it was the strong waves and rough seas that displaced the four snorkelers over the reef.
           
He said that the group departed from Caye Caulker for the marine reserve in weather that was not optimal. He said that in the area there were opposing currents because the area was near the channel.
           
A current flows out, he said, and one flows in, and the currents are strong in both directions. The four who got separated were caught in the current that flowed out, which made it very difficult for them to swim in.
  
He said that if it was left up to him, the tour would not have gone out, because the seas were rough and the wind was strong, and the currents would be heavy in the area.
  
Reports are that during their struggle to come in, two of the tourists went under the water and did not resurface, while the next two struggled until they were rescued by Miguel Alamilla of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. 
           
Miguel Alamilla said that he received a distress call around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, that four tourists from a group of seven had disappeared, and he immediately responded. 
   
The Coast Guard and police were alerted. He arrived in time to see the first survivor struggling and barely making it. He jumped out of the boat and rescued her, and shortly after, the second survivor was spotted and was rescued.
           
Police have since detained the boat captain for an interview to determine exactly what led to the deaths of the two tourists.

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