Lightning strike at caye kills Audubon ranger

A freak accident at Lighthouse Reef has left one man dead and two others with serious burns. Reports are that around seven on Sunday morning park ranger for the Audubon Society, twenty-three year old Daryl Peo, boat captain Carl Pariente and a sideman identified only as Jose were heading to Blue Hole National Park with ten tourists on board. But near their destination, they encountered a severe thunderstorm and a bolt of lightning hit the boat. Pariente, Peo and Jose fell to the floor of the vessel suffering from burns to most of their bodies. Pariente struggled to his feet and managed to restart one of the boat’s engines and then drove to Caye Chapel for help. But apparently, Peo took the brunt of the hit and died before reaching the island. Once at Caye Chapel, staff members there called for help and within the hour, a helicopter was rushing Pariente and Jose to the mainland. None of the tourists were injured. Tonight, Pariente remains admitted to ward at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. According to Gabriel Pariente, his son was struck by so much electricity that the gold chain around his neck melted. Officials at the Belize Audubon Society say Daryl Peo began working at Half Moon Caye in July 2003.