Kelowna man dies in Belize due to ‘fall from height’
Published 10:56 am Thursday, March 19, 2026
A Kelowna man who was found dead in Belize on March 11 likely died from a lengthy fall, said Central American authorities.
On Wednesday, March 11, a Canadian senior, later identified as 72-year-old Thomas David Harman was found dead on his drifting catamaran around 96 kilometres off the Belize shore, said Greater Belize Media.
A cruise ship close by reported a distress call by a woman, who said her husband suffered cardiac arrest. The woman was rescued by the cruise ship but when Belize’s Rescue Team boarded the abandoned catamaran, they found Harman’s body and signs of blood.
Now, an autopsy reveals Harman “died as a consequence of multiple blunt force traumatic injuries due to a fall from height,” according to Belize assistant superintendent of police staff officer Stacy Smith.
“The conclusion of the pathologist is that he fell from a height and the circumstance are such that he was on board a boat,” said Smith. “I don’t know if it is that the assumption would be somebody would’ve been up on the sail with him because that is the suggestion that has been given.”
Smith added that the matter does not fall in Belize’s jurisdiction and officers have finished its investigation. The matter, if further investigation were to go on, is now in the hands of Canadian police. It is believed there was no foul play.
“We have done our due diligence, due diligence in terms of securing and processing the scene and obtaining relevant evidential material,” added Smith. “Should the persons who have jurisdiction, which would be the flagship or the country for which Mr. Harman is a national, that we are able to competently provide them with that information for them to carry further investigation if they believe that foul play is involved.”
On March 12, Smith said it was believed the catamaran, named Melynda, left Honduras around March 9 and later that day, a distress signal was sent out to Honduran authorities.
According to the San Pedro Sun, Harman’s son has travelled to Belize to “arrange for his father’s remains to be returned to Canada.”
