Cruise tourist killed in Jet Ski crash with teenage rider
Jet Skis at the Westin Resort
(CNS): The 31-year-old American cruise ship passenger who died after two Jet Skis collided yesterday afternoon was Robert Cole of Virgilina, Virginia, police have confirmed. An RCIPS spokesperson said that Cole and his 37-year-old female passenger, named as Amy Comer by media in Virginia, who were both visiting Cayman on the Carnival Conquest were thrown into the water when the Jet Ski they were riding collided with one driven by a 15-year-old boy, a cruise visitor from New York.
The crash occurred on Wednesday 15 April just before 1pm close to the Westin Hotel. Cole was transported to the shore where CPR was administered to him. Emergency Services responded shortly and transported him and the woman to the hospital. Cole later succumbed to his injuries, but the female passenger has since been treated and released from the hospital.
The 15-year-old boy from New York, a passenger on the cruise ship Carnival Paradise, was the sole rider of the other Jet Ski in the collision. He suffered a minor nose injury which did not require hospitalization, police said. The teenager was Jet Skiing with his father and three other brothers at the time of the accident. According to other sources the teen may have t-boned Cole’s Jet Ski.
An RCIPS spokespersons said that all the survivors of the accident are still in Cayman assisting the RCIPS with the investigation into the incident, which is being conducted by the Joint Marine Unit of the RCIPS.
Category: Local News
I was on the Carnival Conquest when the accident happened in Grand Cayman. We heard about in on the ship but didn’t know the whole story. It’s a tragic accident and we feel for the wife that’s left without a husband. XXXXXX I hope the wife and their family get justice and closure to this tragedy.
The jet ski that” T- boned ” the couple was rented from public beach. Does anybody remember how government was going “crack down” on people illegally using public beach as a location for private enterprise?
How did that work out? How do you get a trade and business license to work out of a public park. Did they have insurance? Odds are they did not. They pay no rent, no insurance and those that comply with the law have to compete while having greater oversight and cost.
I was a passenger on the Carnival Paradise with the family of the young man (boy) who was involved in this tragic accident which I have only learned the details of now that I finished the cruise and arrived back in port in Tampa, Florida, today April 18, 2015. It was a strange mystery to almost everyone aboard the Carnival Paradise, when we pulled anchor, and began to leave Cayman waters to head to Cozumel, Mexico. We litterally were surrounded by watercraft (both jetskis and at least one boat). We all quickly realized that we IMMEDIATELY returned to the exact same location which we anchored in during our short stay in Cayman. The Master (Captain) quickly notified the entire ship on the P.A, speakers that we had been asked to return to Cayman by their Authorities to cooperate in an “ongoing investigation”? We were then told that it would possibly impact our ability to port in Cozumel the following day, and nothing further until we began to set sail again, AFTER watching what looked like containers, and according to passengers watching out windows aboard our ship, several Individuals (perhaps the family and or the young man involved in the tragic jet ski accident). Aboard the ship, there were rumors abounding, and sadly it was mostly that a 14 year old boy had hit two people with a jet ski and killed them both. Thankfully, I see in the article above that only one person was wounded fatally in the accident, but it is still a tragedy for ALL those involved, and my prayers are with those involved, and their families, especially of the individual who lost their life. Although we reached our port in Cozumel, it would have been wiser to provide the passengers with a bit more information to prevent the inaccurate roumors, and perhaps other passengers witnessed what had occurred, and may have been able to help Cayman Authorities with their investigation into the facts of what happened…regardless of what the final findings of the investigation reveal, this tragedy has profoundly affected the lives of three separate families, and shows that there is an urgent need to restrict jet ski usage in populated water areas, and to provide more extensive training and/or certification before allowing non-locals (tourists) to use these watercraft that can be immensely dangerous in the hands of untrained users!
I too was a passenger along with my husband on this paradise ship. The caption did come over the PA and commented on the reason for turning around as the person above mention. However when we got to Cozumel another couple asked us if we heard what happened and we said no. The gentleman informed us that 3 18 yr old were driving the jet ski and ran over a local guy snorkeling in the water. Went back to the ship instead of notify the proper person. I have yet to read anything about this information. it appears the second story was not correct, but there was an accident involving someone from our ship and that was the reason for turning back around. This is a very sad accident to happen to all parties involved. Pray and thoughts go out the all the family involved and hopefully the young fellow will be able to return back home.
The tragedy continues because no lessons will be learnt. Many accidents happen with jet skis and without proper regulation and “strictly no ski zones” many more will happen.
I hate jet skis. Have nearly been hit snorkelling many times. You should not have riders with no experience going 30mph on a vehicle they have never operated before when there are swimmers, divers, boaters, paddle boarders etc all in the vicinity.
Prayers up for all involved! Sad, sad, sad…
How awful. My condolences go out to the Cole family and Ms. Comer. My prayers also go out to the young man (15 yr old) and his family for this tragic event during their vacation. Tragic all around.
Rest in Peace