Father and Son Drown in Stann Creek During Rescue Attempt Gone Wrong

A father and son drowned in Cowpen Village, Stann Creek District, on Saturday evening. The victims have been identified as Bella Vista village residents, 45-year-old Thomas Cal and his 17-year-old son Elroy Cal. Reports are that the father and son went under and did not resurface sometime before six in the evening. Authorities and rescue personnel arrived not long after and searched for more than two hours before their bodies were found. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero says that the drownings were the result of a rescue attempt gone wrong.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “On Saturday police responded to a report of a drowning at the Swasey River. Upon their arrival they learned that two persons had attempted to rescue a male person who was in the river. This person was successfully rescued however the other two persons were dragged by the currents and they did not resurface. They were identified as Thomas Cal and Elroy Cal. With help from the villagers searches were done in the river where their bodies were recovered. The bodies are presently waiting a post mortem examination. I do not know if there were any safety warnings however the river is deep and there are strong currents in that area.”

Love News understands that the minor being rescued was Thomas Cal’s fourteen-year-old son, who had gone swimming in the river.