Cozumel, Q.R. — One person drowned Monday evening when the boat they were in sank off the island of Cozumel. Marina personnel assisted in the rescue of the 11 tourists on board, the Secretariat of the Navy reported Tuesday.
Marina personnel from the Cozumel Naval Sector with the support of the Naval Station for Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance (ENSAR) Cozumel, rescued 11 people who were on board a boat that sank near Isla de la Pasión, located north of Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, they said.
“The rescue was carried out after receiving an emergency call at the Command and Control Room of the Cozumel Naval Sector, reporting that a vessel named “ES ESA COSA” had capsized and the people on board required assistance,” the Navy said in a statement.
Tourist vessel Es una Cosa was reported to Marina authorities around 7:00 p.m. as it sank off Isla Pasión Monday. The boat was nearing land when it took on water due to a sudden severe thunderstorm.
A nearby fisherman who was dealing with a stalled engine at sea watched as the boat capsized. He called emergency services before heading over to the sinking vessel to help rescue those on board.
Es una Cosa was located approximately 300 meters off the northern coast of Cozumel where four adult men, three adult women and four minors were rescued. All 11 were pulled from the rough sea and brought onboard two naval vessels where they were medically evaluated while being transferred to land.
During the transfer, one adult male died. Navy medical personnel performed CPR, but the man failed to respond. He is reported to have been the one drowning fatality in the Monday night accident.
Shortly before 11:00 p.m., the Municipal Government of Cozumel issued a bulletin confirming “four adult men, three adult women and four minors were rescued.
“The rescued individuals were transported aboard interceptor boats to the Cozumel naval sector where they received primary medical care and were later referred to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
“During the journey, resuscitation was performed on one of the rescued individuals who unfortunately lost his life.” The name of the drowning victim has not been released.
