Body of missing fisherman Samuel Chi recovered near Hicks Caye

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The body of missing Sandhill fisherman Samuel Chi was recovered by the Belize Coast Guard this morning in waters west of Hicks Caye, bringing a tragic end to a multi-agency search that began Sunday night.

Chi and fellow fisherman Albert Vacarro reportedly departed Vista Del Mar at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, to travel to Caye Caulker on a fishing trip. The men were expected to return to the mainland at around 7:00 p.m.

The pair contacted relatives shortly before 7:00 p.m. to indicate that they were heading back, but they never arrived. After relatives were unable to make further contact with them, authorities were notified and a search was launched in the waters between Caye Caulker and the mainland.

A Coast Guard patrol searched through Sunday night, while a second vessel joined the operation early Monday morning. The search later expanded to include the Belize Police Department, Belize Port Authority and Fisheries Department.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Vacarro was found alive and floating southwest of Hicks Caye, about five miles from the coastline. He was dehydrated and disoriented and was transported to the Coast Guard headquarters for initial treatment before being taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

Chi and the vessel remained missing until the discovery of his body this morning. Authorities have not yet released further details explaining what happened to the men, how they became separated or whether the missing vessel has been recovered.

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