Separate Weekend Drowning Incidents at Rio On Pools

Two persons lost their lives in separate drowning incidents at the Rio On Pools in Mountain Pine Ridge over the weekend, prompting the Forest Department to issue a public notice. The department warns the public about the risks of swimming in the Mountain Pine Ridge recreational areas. The Forest Department says that it is reviewing all visitor safety protocols to address any potential gaps and that a public awareness campaign is forthcoming. This morning, A.S.P. Fitzroy Yearwood discussed the weekend drowning.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer

“I know that San Ignacio Police responded to the Rio Frio Caves in the Mountain Pine Ridge area where they spoke to Joshua McTaggart who claims that he was with his wife and his three children, his two sons and a seven-year-old daughter where the two sons asked permission to go and swim in another pool, separate from the one where himself and his wife and his seven-year-old daughter were swimming.  He and his wife were taking pictures when their daughter disappeared.  They asked for assistance from other people that were in that area swimming and about an hour later, they found the seven-year-old‘s body.  A doctor and a nurse that were in the area also assisted by administering CPR but the [child] was unresponsive.  So she was transported to the San Ignacio Community Hospital where her body now awaits a post mortem.”