This is according to one member of the Villegas family who always accompany Bell to his many swimming exploits around the islands.
In an interview in her home, Janel Villegas said that she, together with husband Rick and their two children, accompanied Bell from his point of departure on Saipan on Saturday, October 4, at about 9:50 a.m.
She told Variety that Bell was in good physical condition when he swam the Tinian channel, although Bell did not undergo medical check-up prior to his crossing the channel.
Villegas pointed out that Bell’s plan was to cross the eastside of the channel, facing Obyan Beach of Saipan. However, the water carried him east, thereby sidetracking him in the process.
She narrated that Nazario Borja, another aide and supporter of Bell in his many swimming missions, waited on Bell to arrive at their planned destination on dry land until 6:25 p.m. that same day, but “Old Man in the Sea” was nowhere to be seen.
Bell was supposed to meet Borja at about 4 p.m.
Borja informed the Villegas family about the situation and later called up the Tinian police for a missing person.
Still aware of his location, Bell swam tried to swim back to his course for hours, hoping to finish his cross-channel swim, Villegas said, emphasizing that Bell told them that he used the visible lights on Tinian and Saipan as his coordinates.
Villegas said that Bell told them that the lights on Mt. Tapochau as his guide while he swam back to his course.
Mt. Tapochau is the highest peak on Saipan.
“I could see Laolao Bay,” those are the very words of Bell to the Villegas family and the people who later found him.
“He did not try to float. He just kept on swimming without eating or drinking,” Villegas said, saying she was surprised and at the same time amazed.
Bell turned 70 on June of this year.
The Tinian police, Boating Safety Unit, and the Guam Coast Guard, joined forces to search for Bell for hours, but could not locate him.
Villegas said Bell told them that at one point, the helicopter search and rescue was flying directly above him with searchlights beaming on his sides. Hence, they could not see him.
But Bell was fine all those intense hours, Villegas said, saying Bell was determined to complete his swim of the Tinian channel.
It was at around 11 a.m. on Sunday that Bell was brought on dry land and taken to the Tinian Health Center for medical attention.
Villegas then mentioned that medical personnel later found that Bell’s vital signs were stable.
He did not experience cramps, Villegas said, pointing out that Bell “did his homework” practicing his swim and preparing his stamina by swimming in the reefs around Saipan.
In the end, Bell was fine, and was on his way to completing his crossing of the Tinian channel when the search and rescue mission found him.
According to Tinian police, Bell was located swimming 2 miles north of Tinian.
The Tinian Boating Safety unit found Bell in the area of Blow Hole – a popular tourist attraction on the island, Tinian police told Variety earlier.
Tinian channel has been known for its strong underwater current, and has been home to sharks.
Bell already encountered its strong water current during his first attempt in 1981 where he was swept away miles out in the ocean, until a rescue team found him.
