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Kayak adventure with a happy ending

By on September 10, 2019

Punta Gorda, TOLEDO. Tuesday, September 10, 2019. There were some anxious hours on Tuesday afternoon and evening as an American national failed to return to his hotel in Punta Gorda town as scheduled.

Search & Rescue operation

Keith Plaskett left his room at the Sea Front Inn around 8:30 am enroute to Mother’s Bush, an area of mainly fishing camps near the mouth of the Moho River.

Plaskett set out on his adventure via kayak and told staff he would be back by 2 pm.

But when he did not arrive back at the hotel as scheduled, concerns were raised and an initial report was made to the Punta Gorda police station.

By nightfall, and Plaskett still not back at the hotel, the Belize National Coast Guard, P.G. Police and civilians mobilized resources and a search and rescue mission commenced.

The first boats were already enroute to the general area of where Plaskett had said he would be going, when the exhausted kayaker arrived back at the Sea Front Hotel via taxi.

Police officers taking statements from hotel employee

He briefly mentioned to worried employees of the hotel that it only took him 3 hours to arrive at his intended destination, but on the return journey encountered bad weather, mainly rough seas, and it took him roughly 6 hours to row the approximately 5 nautical miles back to Punta Gorda town.

By 7:30 pm, the search and rescue operation was officially called off, much to the relief of everyone involved.

Plaskett, who is vacationing in Belize, was too exhausted and tired to speak about his ordeal and opted for an early retirement to his room.

Much thanks to the Belize National Coast Guard, Punta Gorda police and members of the P.G. community which promptly responded to the distress call.

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