Two people were killed in an Easter Sunday tragedy in Orange Walk. 20 year old Jennifer Hendricks and 11 year old Alex Aban were paddling in a canoe with ten other persons in the Honey Camp lagoon when it capsized. Today 7News traveled to Honey Camp for answers.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is the Honey Camp Lagoon – a scenic and idyllic getaway 10 miles from Orange Walk Town. But the Honey Camp Lagoon became deadly on Sunday afternoon after an ill-fated attempt to cross it by 11 persons in one small canoe.
Carlos Aysuo, Witness
“They were right there by that side having fun. Later on one of them decided that they wanted to go over to Chendo’s place. She insisted on the balance to come out and go right. So everybody came out and jumped inside a small skiff, very small, and head towards Chendo’s place. We were very concerned about it because we know that the place, the lagoon had a lot of breeze and it was rough. So we decided just to keep an eye on them because we told them not to go, the lagoon is rough and it is too much of you all in that skiff. Well they still decided to go.”
But they went but never made it.
Sarita Ayuso, Witness
“The two of them started to paddle and I was watching and I saw the skiff gaan in. It didn’t turn over, it went in. When the breeze was blowing, a lot of water went into it. I told Inspector that those people were already drowning.”
Carlos Aysuo,
“So when it was sinking I called on the balance of guys that were
along with us and they rescued who they could have rescued. After we put in everybody, we took them to shore and called the police.”
Keith Swift,
Not everyone was saved though.
Carlos Aysuo,
“Well no. Two of them, Jenny, I understand her name is Jenny, and the little 12 year old boy that is Alex Aban. All of them were put in the skiff but by this two of them had already drowned.”
One of the two persons that didn’t make it was this boy - 11 year old Alexander Paul Aban from San Joaquin.
Carlos Ayuso,
“We warned them, we definitely warned them not to go because the lagoon was very rough, it was very windy, but they insisted.”
Keith Swift,
So it was preventable?
Carlos Aysuo,
“Certainly because most of the times when something happens it is because of negligence. They overloaded their skiff, they were maybe drunk, some of them can’t even swim, and it just negligence. That is the general thing about it.”
A post mortem has since certified the cause of death of both Hendricks and Aban as drowning.
