By Belize Live News Staff: A 14 year old was on the river bank at Riverside Street on Sunday afternoon, fishing with friends, when he watched a man drown.
He told police that Cesar Valentin Samayoga, whom he knew, took off his clothing down to his underwear and walked into the river to swim. Samayoga appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Then he began struggling. The boy watched him try to resurface, try to swim back out, and then go under.
Police arrived around 3:10pm and found a crowd gathered on the bank. Samayoga’s clothes were still there. A green shirt, grey three quarter pants, and a pair of black tennis shoes.
A search party was formed and divers went in. Mr. Fidencio Vellos brought the body out of the water.
Samayoga, 49, a labourer of Sitee River Street, was pronounced dead at the Northern Regional Hospital at 4:49pm. No physical injuries were observed.
A postmortem is pending.
Condolences to his family.
