Missing Fisherman Samuel Chi Found Dead at Sea

The search for missing fisherman Samuel Chi has come to a tragic end. Early this morning, a joint search and rescue operation led by the Belize Coast Guard located Chi’s body approximately eight miles north of Belize City, one day after his fishing companion, Albert Vaccaro, was found alive but dehydrated at sea. The two men disappeared Sunday night while traveling from Caye Caulker to the mainland. Now, Chi’s family is coping with the unimaginable loss and authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the incident was the result of an accident at sea or possible foul play. News Five Britney Gordon has the latest.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Hope turned to heartbreak today in the search for two missing fishermen who vanished while traveling from Caye Caulker to Belize City. Rescuers found one man alive after nearly a day at sea, but the search for his companion ended this morning around nine a.m. with the recovery of Samuel Chi’s body.

 

Lt. Mark Choc, Operations Manager, Belize Coast Guard

“A body was located somewhere about four miles southwest of where Mr. Vacara was located yesterday, approximately eight miles north of Belize City. The body was later identified as Mr. Samuel Chi, the missing person, who was recovered and then later transported to Belize Coast Guard headquarters, where it was handed over to the police department and the scenes and Scenes of Crime. Now this investigation is handed over to the police department, where they will continue the investigation to confirm if this is something criminal or accident at sea.”

 

Family members joined Coast Guard and police teams in an extensive search effort that ended this morning when Samuel Chi’s uncle spotted him. Authorities say Chi’s body had likely been submerged for several hours before surfacing. For fifteen years, Kristy Chi knew her husband not only as her life partner, but as the person she expected to come home. But when he disappeared while she was out of the country, that sense of certainty quickly turned into fear. Kristy recalls the moment she realized something was wrong.

 

On the Phone: Kristy Chi, Wife of Deceased

“He was telling me about his day, his catch, how many fishes they caught, and then about 7:15 thereabout Belize time p.m. the answers went unresponsive. I didn’t think much of it because he is like that. However, the wife of Mr. Vaccaro contacted me about ten PM, believe time, and said she concerned they have not reached as yet. Then I sounded the alarm because that is never acceptable from Samuel, I’ve been with him almost fifteen years. I can tell something was wrong.”

 

While his body has been recovered, the vessel the two fishermen were traveling in remains missing, and the Coast Guard continues efforts to locate it as part of the ongoing investigation.

 

Lt. Mark Choc

“The vessel is a riverine vessel. It is designed to be operated in the river. It’s not designed to be out at sea. Therefore, this is a contributing factor to more than likely causing the accident to happen. Therefore, the weather is also a factor to consider. However, the vessel itself is not seaworthy. Therefore, this is something that we are looking into that. Like I mentioned, we would definitely need to locate the vessel so it can contribute to our investigation.”

 

The body was found near Hick’s Caye. Lieutenant Mark Choc, Operations Manager at the Belize Coast Guard, explains that the vessel was likely steered onto a route used to shelter from bad weather.

 

Lt. Mark Choc, Operations Manager

“ The area that they were found is something used  by smaller vessels to try to shelter from the elements or try to shelter from the weather itself. But larger vessels know there’s, there’s a different route that larger vessel use. But this route where they were found is mostly used by smaller vessels to try to shelter or use the islands to shelter from the weather.”

 

Chi said her husband was a recreational fisherman whose loss has devastated the family. He leaves behind two children, and relatives are appealing to anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death to come forward and assist police with their investigation.

 

On the Phone: Kristy

“ We were very much at the peak of enjoying what we’re we were both doing in life. I cannot even explain to you what I’m feeling. So I had to deal with that while trying to find him. After, after last night, I said, “You know what?” I took it, I took it to the Lord in prayer. I said, “Lord, let your will be done. But please let me find my husband to give me closure so I can tell my kids what happened to their dad.”

 

According to Choc, investigators still have not gotten a statement from Albert Vaccaro as he recovers. Police have now stepped in to lead the interviews as they try to determine exactly what unfolded at sea. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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