Coast Guard Continues Search for Missing Samuel Chi 

The Belize Coast Guard has located one of two men reported missing at sea near Caye Caulker, while the search continues for the second man and the vessel they were travelling on. 

During this afternoon’s police briefing, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith confirmed that Albert Vacarro and Samuel Chi were reported missing after failing to return from a boating trip on Sunday night.

Search operations began around 10:00pm that night across the waters surrounding Coffee Caye and nearby cayes. 

News Five later confirmed with Lieutenant Mark Choc, Operations Officer for the Belize Coast Guard, that Vacarro was located around 11:30 a.m. today.

According to Lieutenant Choc, Vacarro was found floating in the water by a Coast Guard vessel. An initial medical assessment found he was dehydrated and disoriented. 

“He was dehydrated and disoriented, whereby he was not able to confirm what really transpired,” Choc said. 

Lieutenant Choc added that hours of search led to the activation of a joint operation with the Belize Port Authority and the Fisheries Department.

As of this afternoon, Samuel Chi remains missing, and the vessel the two men were travelling in has not been located.

The Belize Coast Guard says search and rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to locate Chi and determine what led to the incident.