The body of 21 year old Carlos Reyes was retrieved from the New River in Orange Walk Town sometime around eleven o’clock this morning. Reyes and another friend had gone swimming yesterday evening but did not resurface. An intensive search was launched by the Orange Walk Police Department with the help of the Belize Coast Guard. According to Deputy Commander of Orange Walk Police, Inspector Nicolas Palomo, an intoxicated Reyes was in a vehicle with 36-year-old Hidalgo Velasquez and while driving along Riverside Street, he noticed a friend sitting on the river bank.
NICOLAS PALOMO
“Carlos Reyes asked to stop the vehicle because his friend was sitting by the river bank. Carlos Reyes came out of the vehicle, went by the river bank for a few minutes, then the two of them got into the river where they disappeared. About eleven forty five am this morning, Coast Guard personnel recovered one body that was identified as the one of Carlos Reyes. The next body still has not been recovered and the Coast Guard and volunteers are there right now searching for the body.”
HIPOLITO NOVELO
“Sir can you tell us whether or not these individuals were consuming alcohol at the time?”
NICOLAS PALOMO
“According to the witness, they say that they were drinking beer. Yes they were consuming alcohol.”
HIPOLITO NOVELO
“Can you tell us whether or not the officers saw any injuries to the body of Mr. Reyes.”
NICOLAS PALOMO
“Well the body was observed and there were no signs of injuries on the body.”
HIPOLITO NOVELO
“How long will the officials of the Coast Guard be looking for this other individual?”
NICOLAS PALOMO
“I cannot tell you at this time. It has to be the Coast Guard dive master who will be the one to say when the search should be called off.”
Up to news time, the body of the second man has not been found.
