Two persons were injured in a boat explosion near Caye Caulker on Wednesday, April 15. The two men were 33-year-old, Coronel Brown (boat captain) and 23-year-old, Jairo Reyes (boat assistant). Reports were that Brown along with Reyes were preparing to leave Caye Caulker en route to a resort near St. George’s Caye when the boat experienced mechanical problems and blew up.
“One of the men received minor injuries to his left foot, and the other received extensive injuries, both this spinal and left side of his body,” commented Police Corporal Ian Gevon – 2nd in Charge, Caye Caulker Police Station, “He has no movement on that side of his body. He also had severe injuries to his face and 1st and 2nd degree burns to his feet.”
The boat was totally destroyed but the engines were not damaged. Reyes was treated for his minor injuries on the island while Brown was hospitalized at the Belize Medical Associates. Ambergris Today was able to obtain images of the boat while it was still in flames; these pictures are courtesy of Mark Walker of Caye Caulker. (News Source: News 5 and Channel 7).
