So, two children lost to the Rio On pools both trapped in rock crevices.
The question now is could the authorities or the park rangers have done more to save them?
In Issac Pipersburgh's case the family says that when border patrol, who were the first responders, showed up, they didn't come with ropes or rescue material they just came armed.
Here's what Paul Pipersburgh, a cousin of Issac's, who lived through that harrowing day with his family feels was amiss with the response of the park:
Paul Pipersburgh, Issac's Cousin
"When you consider the amount of beauty and possibilities and just the opportunity for Cayo to continue to grow and develop, you know we're up there and you're not expecting things to happen, but things happen and when it does, there is nothing. You knew there is no phone service, you see a ranger station there, you reach out to the rangers - they have nothing. They can't reach the police, there is no radio, there is no nothing. They come and there is misinformation, they don't know what to do. The simple thing is at least know and be trained - there is rivers, there are pools, the one thing you should be trained in is rescue what the process is and that's the main thing. What's the process, no one knew? The only person that knew that Mr. Peter Friesen that actually came through and rescued Issac. If anything, out of this that we learned from Issac and the poor little girl who the next day lost her life is there needs to be more training, there needs to be something in place, because Belize/Cayo itself is going to continue to grow. That much is happening. We know that and with that they need to have some more resources in training on if A and B happens, what's the next step? What's the process? If you have tourism coming through this area, do we have an ambulance service, it not that, just what's the next step?"
"I don't know what else to say, because I don't want to keep going into resources being limited, because I understand that. But the miscommunication between the police come in, stay here, you can go, come back - it took an hour. It took almost an hour between going and coming back, because we are told 2 different things and ranger just didn't know what to do, she said one thing and said another thing and then we had to come back and we just ended up leaving, because we have my cousin.... - all I could say we need some form of training in indeed you're going to continue to have this developing area continue to thrive and it's not just for tourism, it's for the people of Cayo as well, because this isnt the first time it has happened, I am sure. It's the river. It's been taking lives I am sure for a long time. There is processes that can be done to at least trained the people that are involved to understand what to do next and how to handle these situations."
A release from the forestry department today laments both drownings and says there will be an internal investigation into both incidents.
It says, quote, "The department warns the public about the risks of swimming in the Mountain Pine Ridge recreational areas. Close adult supervision is strongly recommended, especially when children are using natural pool formations, as lifeguards are not stationed at these locations. The Forest Department is reviewing all visitor safety protocols to address any potential gaps. In the coming weeks, a public awareness campaign will be initiated to remind visitors of the risks associated with recreation at the sites, as well as safety measures to ensure a safe visitor experience." End quote.
