An experienced, 32-year old SCUBA diver from Spain passed away in Jaco Beach after Red Cross paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
According to a news report filed by
Alexander Mendez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, Yordi Estarrol Pujol was an avid diver who had already spent a few days exploring choice diving sites off the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. He had been staying with a female companion at a hotel in
Playa Hermosa, located near
Jaco Beach in the Garabito canton of the province of Puntarenas.
Mr. Estarrol had booked a spot on a dive charter boat that took him along with a group to a site located off the coast of Jaco Beach. The boat got underway around 9:00 in the morning and was expected to return to shore for a late lunch.
Some divers in the group, including Mr. Estarrol, descended past 30 meters, which is considered a deep dive by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), but still within the boundaries of recreational -though not technical- diving. It was at that depth that the Spanish diver waved his arm and pointed a spinning finger to his head to signal others that he was not feeling well and needed to ascend.
The group helped Mr. Estarrol to the surface, where a boat brought him
back to Jaco Beach and radioed for Red Cross rescuers to meet them on the sand. During the ride back to the beach, Mr. Estarrols shallow breathing worsened and turned into convulsions by the time he returned to land.
Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts by the Red Cross, Mr. Estarrol did not improve and his vital signs diminished until he passed away. He was apparently fond of diving in Costa Rica and had already made friends in Jaco Beach.
