Fisherman dies in boating accident

A Punta Gorda fisherman died as a result of a boating accident on Saturday. That afternoon, Independence Police received information that someone had been swimming near Waterside Dock and had not resurfaced. However, upon reaching the scene, they discovered the incident actually took place about a quarter mile offshore. Eliodoro Lara reported that he and five other men were traveling in a boat driven by 53-year old Punta Gorda fisherman Domingo Cal when they felt the boat shake as if it had hit something. Lara said when he looked back, the driver was gone. Cal’s body was found early Sunday morning near a mangrove island with propeller injuries to the head. A postmortem was conducted in Belmopan this morning. Police do not suspect foul play as they have received reports that the men were under the influence when they left the docks. No one has been detained in connection with this incident.