You may remember the name Nancy Masters from the news back in 2005. She was one of the tourists lost at sea for 55 hours in the waters off Placencia.
34-year-old Japanese Yutaka Maeda and Americans 38-year-old Nancy Masters, 50-year-old John Bain and 28-year-old Abigail Brinkman were lost at sea when their dive boat engine failed. There was no radio onboard, so with the boat drifting, they tried to swim to the nearest island - what would prove to be a fatal error of judgment for Abigail Brinkman who did not have a wet suit. It was a terrible tragedy at sea -but today Nancy Masters returned to Belize - to get some closure.
Janelle Chanona - who was the only journalist to speak to her about the ordeal in 2005 - was there to greet her - as was one of the men who helped save her life.
Here's the scene at the airport:...
Janelle Chanona, reporting
It was an emotional scene at the Phillip Goldson International Airport this morning when survivor Nancy Masters returned to Belize.
In October 2005, Masters was one of four divers who were lost at sea during a dive trip near Silk Caye. Their dive boat's only engine had failed and with no way to communicate the situation to anyone else, the group decided to try to swim to nearest island. For three days and two nights, Masters, John Bain, Yutaka Maeda and Abigail Brinkman drifted on open waters.
Sandra Maples, Friend
"I stayed at the point. Day and night, waiting to hear the news, it was a nightmare. I cannot explain, there was no sleep, I couldn't eat, nothing. I thought she was dead."
For fifty-five hours, an intensive sea and air search and rescue mission turned up nothing. But then, at dusk on third day, a BDF flight crew saw what they were looking for.
Col. Ganney Dortch, BDF Air Wing
"As soon as we spotted the first person, like I don't know, I believe in God, all of a sudden the water just got calm and I just started to spot one at a time, the last person that was retrieve from the water - I was trying to communicate with the person on the ground hey you have that guy hooked on the back of the boat and they didn't realize that they had found that person either accidentally or they weren't aware that this person was actually hooked on to the vessel. From the air we were able to coordinate the effort."
Nancy Masters, Survivor
"I actually never thought I had been spotted before and I wasn't even entirely sure the plane spotted me, I think they were looking for the other divers, so the behavior of the flight patterns confused me. I thought they were just out here doing some training, I didn't want to take anything for granted."
The four divers were found within minutes of each other but sadly, 28-year-old Brinkman did not survive the ordeal. Her family has since established a foundation in her name and a medical centre, "Abby's House", has been dedicated to her in Punta Gorda.
Ganney Dortch
"We weren't able to rescue her alive, give her back to her family and having her family there representing her, dedicating this building in her name, it was a bit emotional especially when they ask me to recount what had transpired."
Nancy Masters, Survivor
"I've never blamed the people of Belize for what happened. There is responsibility in various areas but blame doesn't help anyone and what the majority of the people did to help those of us in the water goes way above and beyond what any err could account for. Not only there is not blamed but my God everybody was absolutely beautiful and gracious and kind."
Masters says seven years later, the experience continues to impact her life.
Nancy Masters, Survivor
"The interesting thing is that in a lot of ways the experience for me wasn't as tragic as it was - for lack of a better word "interesting" it was a fascinating experience, I certainly learnt a lot about myself and I would have I think an entirely viewpoint on it if Abi had not died and certainly her death did make the entire incident a tragedy. But for me personally how much it change me or affected me I don't think I still know and actually one of the reasons I am back here is I really want to look into that and talk to people. There are pieces that I don't remember, but mostly there are a lot of people that I want to see and thank."
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
"Will you dive when you are in Belize?"
Nancy Masters, Survivor
"I want to dive the Blue Hole (laughing)."
Nancy Masters, Survivor
"As far as the message, obviously not to blame the country for one person's poor choice and there are some things that I like to talk about if I have the chance and they are willing to speak to me that would be fantastic, but not on camera."
Sandra Maples, Friend
"I put myself in her shoes, if that had happened to me, I don't think I would ever want to go back to that country, but I am so proud that she chose to come back to Belize, so so happy and as long as I have the power I'd make sure this be a memorable trip for her."
Janelle Chanona
"For the right reasons."
Sandra Maples, Friend
"For the right reasons."
Reporting for 7News, I am Janelle Chanona.
Masters is heading south - and reports are she plans to go diving as a form of therapy.
