Student Drowns on Retreat

Edward Broaster

The fourth person to lose his life this weekend is a teenager from Belize City. Fourteen year old Eric Cruz was out on an evangelical retreat near mile twenty-five on the George Price Highway. The occasion, which should have had a happy ending turned tragic for Cruz who drowned on Friday evening when he went swimming in a pond with a group of other youths attending the retreat. The Eastern Division Rural Police Zone today held a press briefing and told the media about the incident.

Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Rural Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Eric Cruz was swimming at the mile twenty-five on an evangelistic Church retreat along with two other male persons where they observed him having difficulty and when he was retrieved, he was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Rochelle Chan

Insp. Rochelle Chan, O.C., Hattieville Police

“The investigation revealed that the retreat was being conducted by the evangelistic group. A diversity of members from different churches countrywide were meeting there and apparently this tragic incident occurred.”

Reporter

“So it is just that he got cramp? Did he know how to swim?”

Insp. Rochelle Chan

“Well the information is that he went swimming at a nearby pond with other members and this is what occurred. He submerged under the water; he was assisted, carried to the K.H.M.H., but pronounced dead on arrival.”