The Dangers of Cave Tubing in Belize
A 52-year-old woman on a Carnival cruise drowned yesterday while on a shore excursion in Belize. She was tubing on the Caves Branch River—in what some say were questionable conditions—when, according to one account, she was swept under a rock. Reports USA Today: “A local news station in Belize, Channel 7 News, reports that most local tour companies that operate on the Caves Branch River had canceled their trips Wednesday due to poor conditions.” Obviously, her trip wasn’t canceled. Her husband, who was with her at the time, offered a chilling account to the country’s Channel 5 News. They were screaming for help when they were sucked under, he said, adding: “I don’t remember anything because I think we flip upside down. Somebody was watching my wife and I and it was just second and we keep going down, down, down and you can tell the water pressure is pushing us inside the cave. I kind of panicked and I am trying to keep my mouth shut to keep little air, trying to find my way. I was trying to find where to go. It took maybe twenty seconds, fifteen seconds and I was like no more air. I said, I am dying right here.” Carnival says it has suspended the excursion offering and is investigating. http://www.worldhum.com/weblog/item/the_dangers_of_cave_tubing_in_belize_20080925/ Carnival passenger drowns on Belize cave tubing tour A Carnival passenger drowned Wednesday in Belize while on a shore excursion booked through the line. Carnival has not released the name of the passenger, who had arrived in Belize on the Carnival Glory, but the line says it was a 52-year-old woman who was traveling with her husband. The couple had signed up for a cave tubing tour on Belize's Caves Branch River -- a popular pasttime for cruisers who visit the country. "The individual was traveling with her spouse who remained in Belize and is currently being accompanied and assisted by a shipboard staff member," the line says in a statement this morning to USA TODAY. "Carnival CareTeam personnel are scheduled to arrive in Belize today." Carnival says it has suspended all future sales of its cave tubing excursion in Belize, and an investigation into the accident is underway. A local news station in Belize, Channel 7 News, reports that most local tour companies that operate on the Caves Branch River had canceled their trips Wednesday due to poor conditions. "Those who work in the area say the Caves Branch River was too high and that’s why most tours were cancelled," the news outlet notes. "But one wasn’t and witnesses say around 10:30 they heard screams." The station cited the currents on the river. "Those currents swept (the woman) under a rock where she drowned," the news outlet reported. "They attempted CPR but she was already dead." The 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory departed from Port Canaveral, Fla., on Sept. 20 on a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise and=2 0is scheduled to return to Florida on Saturday. "Carnival extends its deepest sympathy to the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time and will continue to offer our full assistance and support," the line says in its statement. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=56115982.blog
