Canadian Man Died From Fall, Police Say

Canadian national Thomas David Harman, 72, died from blunt force injuries caused by a fall, according to investigators. 

Harman’s body was found on March 11 on a drifting catamaran more than sixty miles offshore after a cruise ship rescued his wife, who reported that he had suffered cardiac arrest. Signs of blood on the vessel raised questions about what happened during the couple’s voyage.

Today, ASP Stacy Smith clarified the autopsy findings: “The conclusion of the pathologist is that he fell from a height, and the circumstances are such that he was on board a boat.” She added, “I don’t know if it is that the assumption would be somebody would’ve been up on the sail with him because that is the suggestion that has been given.”

Harman had been sailing with a friend from Guatemala to the Cayman Islands on his own boat, “Melynda.”

Smith stressed that while Belizean authorities carried out a full investigation, the case does not fall under Belize’s jurisdiction.

Officers processed the scene and collected evidence, which will be handed over to authorities in Harman’s home country should they decide to pursue further investigation.