Placencia saluted for assistance to home invasion victim as boat recovered

By Aaron Humes: Channel 7 News reports that the boat stolen from resort owner and home invasion victim, Christian Gusenbauer, was found on Saturday abandoned near Hopkins village, Stann Creek District, roughly 35 miles north.

The boat was abandoned after the pirates reportedly made off with its engine.

Austrian retiree Gusenbauer, 46, was shot at numerous times by a group of armed men in hoodies who invaded the house he was staying in at Lark Caye on Friday night at about 7 p.m. He was brought to shore and is stable in hospital in Belize City, recovering. He was also robbed of money he was forced to hand over to the robbers.

Meanwhile, one of the first responders to the incident, Christo Swanepoel, has taken to social media to thank residents and authorities on the peninsula for their prompt assistance, stating: “I want to make it clear. I was absolutely not alone in this effort. The entire Placencia stepped up and together we rallied all the available forces.”

Swanepoel mentions various officers in the Placencia and Belmopan formations as well as Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, who has visited Gusenbauer in hospital; the Coast Guard who recovered the abandoned boat and brought it back to Placencia in rough seas; various residents who participated in the initial rescue by maintaining communication, comforting Gusenbauer during the rough ride to shore, organizing ambulance and medical services, and so on.

Dr Alexis Caballero, who took charge of stabilizing “Gigi,” as he is nicknamed, and transporting him to Belize City for treatment, is also named.

Swanepoel concludes, “I want to reiterate. Pulling this together and being able to go out on the boat within 45 minutes of this whole thing starting. The Entire Placencia community are heroes… Well done Placencia!”

Police investigations continue.

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