On Saturday, a 14 year old American tourist drowned in the Belize District. Tomari Jackson was in a group of 33 American Students between 14 and 15 year old, along with their chaperones from the North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. They came to Belize and were on the first day of their school trip, which took them to Monkey Bay resort. While on the trail the group along with local guides stopped by an area known as Tiger Sandy Bay a few miles off mile 31 on the George Price Highway to take a swim in the Sibun river. They left the area after 5:00 in the evening, but when they made headcount, the chaperones realized that one of the students was missing. Inspector Juanito Cocom from the Rural Eastern Division told us more:
Inspector Juanito Cocom - Deputy Commander, Eastern Rural
"Based on the information received of a missing person in Tiger Sand Bay area, which is about 6 miles off the Mile 31 on the George Price Highway. Police visited Monkey Bay resort where one Mr. Matt Miller, 59 year old American businessman reported that on the same date around 3pm, a group of around 32 Americans students ages 14 and 15 accompanied by 6 American chaperons visit the resort and went swimming. Around 5:15pm, the group left the swimming area and border a bus back to the resort. A head count was conducted on board the bus when it was then discovered that one of the students namely Tomari Elija Jackson, 14 years who unfortunately would have been 15 today - a student of Atlanta Georgia USA was missing."
With the assistance of the Belize Coast Guard, an extensive search party combed the waters for any signs of the missing teen. Around 2:56 on Sunday morning some local divers found the lifeless body of young Tomari Jackson.
Emanuel Pech
"Do you believe that the tour had done everything it could to prevent any such incident as this? What went wrong?"
Matthew Miller, Managing Director - Monkey Bay Resort
"Yes. I believe there is no one at fault. There was all the procedures followed. There was the briefing with the group. Tomari was a 14 year old student."
Emanuel Pech
"Is he a known swimmer?"
Matthew Miller, Managing Director - Monkey Bay Resort
"Yes. He had a consent form signed by his mother that he was prepared to swim. There was no medical conditions. He was with a group, all eyes were on the group. Tomari had a GoPro camera and swimming goggles that he was wearing and he was going under the water to look and to film we assumed and at some point he did not come up."
Reporter
"How is his colleagues, fellow students dealing with this?"
Matthew Miller, Managing Director - Monkey Bay Resort
"Everybody is crushed; family back home, school faculty, school board members - a lot of praying going on. We had pastors from local Belize churches come and console the group on Sunday at Monkey Bay. We've been in close contact with the family. Everybody is grieving on the loss of Tomari in this unfortunate accidental drowning."
Reporter
"Would you say that because of this incident that other future groups may think twice before coming to Belize in a class trip or such?"
Matthew Miller, Managing Director - Monkey Bay Resort
"It's quite possible. I think that we'll just need to assure everybody there was no extenuating circumstances and Tomari simply didn't surface. The coroner at this moment is doing an autopsy, so that they can determine officially the cause of death. So at 4pm today we will receive the coroner's declaration of the cause of death on the death certificate. That might tell us more."
Emanuel Pech
"Does this affect your business?"
Matthew Miller, Managing Director - Monkey Bay Resort
"I think it would. I hope that people would not be afraid of the Sibun River as a result of this. This is one of those unfortunate accidents."
The autopsy report issued earlier confirmed the cause of death as drowning. In the 25 years of operating the Monkey Bay Resort, Matthew says that this is the first time they have experienced any casualties while on one of their tours.
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