Belize City man drowns when canoe capsizes at sea

The combination of small boat and big sea proved fatal to a Belize City man over the weekend. On Sunday morning, three fishermen looked forward to a day of recreation in local waters about four miles off the coast. Only two returned. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the story.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Twenty-two year old Elvin Omar Serrano, twenty-one year old Isias Martinez, and thirty-seven year old Ronny Batres set off from in front of the Central Bank for a fishing trip in this canoe. After a couple hours of fish, sun, and fun, the trio began the approximately forty-five minute journey back to the city at around four that evening. But by then, the tranquil seas had turned rough and about a mile away from home, disaster struck.

Elvin Omar Serrano, Survivor [Translated from Spanish]
“A big wave came over in the canoe and it started sinking, the canoe’s ice box started to fill up with water and we couldn’t bring the canoe to the surface. He went to get the water cooler and shortly after that we didn’t see him.”

“We held on to the canoe until a boat came and helped us. We started looking for the other guy, but we didn’t find him.”

A half hour later, Serrano and Martinez were rescued by a passing water taxi. The Coast Guard was also informed of the incident and they, along with friends, have been combing the waters looking for Batres.

All three of the men were employees of Bradley’s Boat Yard in Belize City. Batres is said to have worked with the company for over a decade and was the one who built the canoe.

Elvin Omar Serrano
“I know Ronny for about nine years and Isias for about three years.”

Kendra Griffith
“Is this something that you all did regularly, go fishing?”

Elvin Omar Serrano
“We used to go fishing regularly.”

Kendra Griffith
“And this is the first time something like this happened?”

Elvin Omar Serrano
“Yes, the first time.”

Batres relocated from Guatemala to Belize about fourteen years ago. He is married and has two children. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

This morning police received reports of a body floating in the sea near the Manatee River, which they suspected might be Batres, but by the time they arrived on the scene, the corpse was nowhere to be found.