Cayman Brac: Snorkeler and diver die in separate incidents

[DandyDon]

Cayman 27 : Snorkeler and diver die in separate incidents

Two men died within 24 hours in separate incidents in the waters off Cayman Brac.

In the first incident, around 5 p.m. on Monday, 17 January, a 68-year-old man was snorkelling in the harbour close to the Buccaneer’s Inn when “he apparently lost consciousness” according to a police press statement.

The press statement stated his tour guide, a member of staff from Paradise Tours, took the man to shore and attempted to perform CPR. The snorkeler, a tourist from the USA, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In the second incident a 67-year-old man, also a tourist from the USA, was diving with his wife as part of an organised tour with Reef Divers on Tuesday, 18 January.

Police were alerted around 3:40 p.m. that the man, who was disabled, had lost consciousness while diving in around 8 feet of water near Charlie’s Reef.

The press statement stated Reef Divers staff brought the man to shore and he was transferred to the Faith Hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The statement noted police believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths.

 

[ajduplessis]

Don,

Do you work for the coroners offices? Our thoughs to those left behind.

 

[DandyDon]

Don,

Do you work for the coroners offices? Our thoughs to those left behind.

I have a couple of google-alerts that send me emails every day. I save them for last and hope someone else posts about them first. Either way, I then hope to learn more from anyone who may have been there, and learn from the accident. Got to really wonder what the scuba diver's disability was and did he have a private DM? I know a guy in Dallas who lost foot, went to the Caymans and hired one - did fine I hear.

 

[Doubler]

Don do me a favor, no more dive death reports for people over 60. It really brings me down and ruins all my dive trip planning.

 

[BoltSnap]

But then he will report on the ones in their 40's and 50's and that would make it even more depressing for me.

 

[diver 85]

I have a couple of google-alerts that send me emails every day. I save them for last and hope someone else posts about them first. Either way, I then hope to learn more from anyone who may have been there, and learn from the accident. Got to really wonder what the scuba diver's disability was and did he have a private DM? I know a guy in Dallas who lost foot, went to the Caymans and hired one - did fine I hear.

Sorry for the loss of these 2--man, you make me(almost 60 YO) feel good----I keep telling my wife we only have a few more years to 'investigate' the S Pacific thoroughly--good reason to get to Indonesia this year.....

 

[DandyDon]

Any diving death is depressing, but it's important to learn from the accidents of others when we can - usually on what-if discussions. I've been 59 for some years now, but I'm more bothered when it's a younger one.

Ever hear this one? 1,000 Marbles

 

[Scuba Stew]

Great story Dandydon. It reminds me of a Neurosis song that uses a clip from the movie "The Sheltering Sky" and goes like this.

"Because we don't know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well, yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more, perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."

Sorry to hi-jack.

 

[CanadianTravelAgent]

This is very unfortunate and very bizarre to have 2 incidents happen so closely together like this. There were 2 deaths very close together in Provo back awhile ago. Why do these seemingly random incidents get bunched up together like this?...very strange. My thoughts go out to the families involved.

 

[robint]

Most diver deaths occur due to the fact that the people are in poor health and/or never exercise until they go on vacation. The incidents have nothing to do with diving itself. I am sure plenty of tourist die in every tourist destination worldwide in non-water related incidents, too. Let's just keep it all in perspective.

robin