Belize Coast Guard Saves Four Near Gladden Spit

Over the weekend, the Belize Coast Guard successfully rescued four people after their vessel, The Wet Spot, was reported in distress by the Honduran Navy. The coordinated operation saved three U.S. nationals and one Mexican who had departed Placencia on November twenty-first, bound for Roatán but never arrived. The vessel was later found grounded on the reef near Gladden Spit, where Coast Guard units swiftly responded to ensure all passengers and crew were brought to safety. We spoke with Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard for more information in the rescue operation.

 

On The Phone: Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“The vessel was spotted by a Honduran search aircraft near the Gladden Spit area. This is about perhaps about fifteen miles east of Placencia. The Honduran vessel spotted the vessel that was in distress and pass coordinates to us and we deployed search and rescue units to the area. The vessels arrived at that location and saw the vessel wet spot grounded near the Gladden Split channel. We immediately confirmed with the persons on board to see if they were okay. They were in good spirits. We evacuated them from after vessel. We took three of those persons to safety in Placencia. The captain of the vessel remained on board during the grounding. It was a very interesting dynamics of how this one unfolded. There were three US nationals on board and one Mexican national on board. Communication was difficult from them to reach any search and rescue entity. Luckily the Hondurans were able to perceive that distress signal and they were able to locate that, that vessel and pass that information to us, and they were able to rescue those individuals from off the vessel. Navigation in that era particularly is difficult. So there will be a full marine investigation that will be led by the police port authority to determine the cause of the accident itself.And then the Department of Environment will investigate the damage done to the reef. As far as the police corps is concerned, or first action is to ensure that there is safe their life. Of the persons that were involved and we did that. I know we will be supporting the Port Authority and the Department of Environment to follow on the two investigations.”