American Expat Shot in San Pedro is Flown to the U.S. for Medical Treatment

Sixty-year-old Clifford Kirk is on his way to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland in the U.S. for medical attention following Thursday’s shooting in San Pedro. A local non-profit called “Triple R” short for ‘Rickilee Response and Rescue’ works with Charity Air to help transport victims and coordinate transfers for extreme emergencies.  Kirk was shot in the head when four robbers stormed his house at miles ten and a half on northern San Pedro. During the home invasion, the robbers stole a pistol, a shotgun and a briefcase with an undisclosed amount of money; they then escaped on two jet-skis as the Kirk’s house is isolated and only accessible by water.  We spoke today with Jodie Harnish via phone. She helped to created Triple R in San Pedro and was able to mobilize and get Kirk out of the country in just one day. She has been in contact with Kirk’s wife, Linda, and tells us that they are keeping hope.

Via Phone: Jodie Harnish , Rickilee Response and Rescue

“We got the call yesterday, very unfortunately, about this accident and our Coastal Express responded initially and the police helped to bring the gentleman in where he went to the polyclinic and he was immediately flown over to Belize City. In the process of forming Triple R, we also teamed with Charity Air Ambulance. They found us after they heard of our water response team that has been very successful so far. They are teaming up with us to get expats back into the United States who are critically injured or they have illnesses that they need further care in the United States.”

Andrea Polanco

“Jodie, have you had any contact with the family? Are they hopeful – we understand Mr. Cliff is in a critical condition?”

Via Phone: Jodie Harnish

“Yes. They are very hopeful. I have been in contact with them and their family friend and we are trying to afford them their privacy that they need right now. But we have been in contact with them and they are very grateful for everything that is being done and the efficiency for getting it done as quickly as we were able to. So, we will follow up with them and hopefully he will fully recover down the road. Everybody is very distraught. We are upset with the way it came about. It is very disturbing for everybody and sad that these kinds of things are happening on the island. The best that we can do is to try and be there for the family.”

Kirk, who retired as Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army, had been visiting Belize since the 1980’s and fell in love with San Pedro. He decided to relocate once he and his wife, who is a Full Colonel of the U.S. Army, built their house called ‘Casa Brisa by the Sea.’