Blackman Eddy drowning prompts safety concerns
As the dry season approaches, more and more Belizeans will seek relief from the heat in just about every body of water. But an incident this week in the Cayo district has prompted renewed concerns that safety must be a priority of outdoor activity.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Around two on Thursday afternoon, eighteen year old Camara Trapp and a group of her friends were bathing at the popular swimming spot in Blackman Eddy Village. But the fast moving water proved too much for the teenager and she was swept away by strong currents.
According to thirty-five year old Diana Codrington, who did not wish to appear on camera, she told Trapp—who was not a strong swimmer—to hold onto her hands. But Trapp moved farther way and by the time she realised she was in trouble, Trapp was unable to grab onto one of the overhanging branches for help.
Around nine this morning villagers found Trapp’s body floating in the same area. Today, the close knit community gathered to mourning the loss of the captain of the Blackman Eddy Survivors softball team.
Elaine Ireland, Chairperson, Blackman Eddy Village
“Well Camara was a very, very active young lady. She loved sports, especially football. Just recently about a week ago, we formed our softball and she was the captain of our softball team. We had only practised out there two nights when this incident had happened. We were getting ready for the competition.”
“We lost the captain and everybody is sad, so I do not know if the team will continue you know, because everybody feels sad about it.”
While the drowning tragedy will not stop people from enjoying Belizean ponds, lagoons, rivers, and the sea community leaders like Elaine Ireland says she will do everything in her power to make safety a priority.
Elaine Ireland
“Well, we definitely will be warning them to be careful whenever they go to the river. Especially in the current to be very careful and to always be with somebody who is a very good swimmer.”
“We would like to inform all the villagers, especially we have people coming from outside the village who come to swim, we want to warn them to be very careful and we intend to put a sign by the riverside asking them to be very careful.”
San Ignacio police are also asking the public to exercise extreme caution.
Sr. Supt David Henderson, O.C., Cayo District
“From a police standpoint we would want to advise them that they should always ensure that they go with people who are able to swim and people who will be looking out for them, because they need to be extremely careful at this time because this is the time when we always have a lot of drowning.”
Camara Trapp had gone to the river with her friends to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of one of the members of the group. Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.
Funeral arrangements for Camara Trapp have yet to be finalised.
