_And while that missing plane is deeply troubling,_it isn't the only search and rescue operation that is presently underway. At around 6 yesterday evening a party of 8 fishermen left Placencia in a 25 foot skiff with a 75 horse power engine.
They were heading for Pampion Caye near the Ranguana Caye when the boat capsized. We spoke to one of the occupants Jorge Bantun who says that rough seas caused water to flood the boat causing it to overturn. They were able to anchor the craft and they set up a plan to find help. Three of the men Arun Reymundo, Jorge Bantun and another man decided to take an icebox as a flotation device and swim to Pampion Caye. They left around 8 and Bantun says they had to sleep in the water whilst holding on to the icebox.
They reached the caye at around 1 this morning and from there they managed to call for assistance. While Bantun and his team left with the ice box, two other fishermen known only as wil and Santana left swimming in search of help elsewhere. The remaining three fishermen Armando Bantun who is Jorge's younger brother and Alfredo Pott and Francisco Pedaza stayed on the capsized skiff and anchored it. Speaking with us on phone form the remote island, Bantun told us he does not know what happened to the rest of the party, but says that the two others who accompanied him are both safe on Pampion Caye.
Apart from looking for the missing plane, the BDF Airwing is also looking for that vessel and the other two swimmers. But Major Dortch explained that bad weather associated with the formation of Tropical Storm Gamma forced them to stop that search.
Major Ganney Dortch,
"Unfortunately we were not able to get to that area, again because of weather conditions. We deployed a Defender. Unfortunately it was at 3,000 feet trying to descend to low levels to try and effect a search. Unfortunately that airplane didn't make it to that location so as a result of that we diverted that plane to assist with the search and rescue efforts for the airplane."
Alfonso Noble,
You have two searches on your hand. Which one are you prioritizing, given the conditions that exist?
Major Ganney Dortch,
"Well both of them are priority, both of them involve life and at first light, at approximately 0530 hours, we will deploy again a Defender to the area of concern and also a further flight to the other area."
