Helicopters to the Rescue for Toledo Teens

The Belize Defence Force Air Wing was hard at work over the weekend, responding to an emergency situation in the Toledo District. The Ministry of Defence reports that three children between the ages of ten and sixteen went on a fishing expedition and wound up stranded on the far bank of the San Benito Poite River which runs through the village of the same name. The river had crested above normal due to a flash flood and the two bridges leading into the village, the Hammock Bridge and main bridge were damaged and submerged by water. The UH1H Huey helicopter donated from Taiwan was pressed into service and the youngsters were taken to safety. The B.D.F. received the helicopters from Taiwan in April and recently completed a training course for its pilots.