Elderly visitor from Arizona drowns during snorkel trip
(CNS): Police have now named the 71-year-old visitor who died Thursday after a snorkel trip in the George Town Harbour around Eden Rock. She was Gail Ann Moss from Scottsdale, Arizona. Police and the emergency services were called to the area at around 11:30am yesterday (9 March) following the report that she had encountered difficulties while in the water snorkelling. EMS personnel performed CPR on Moss and took her to the Cayman Islands Hospital but she was pronounced dead a little after noon.
Category: Local News
Condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.
Begs questions:-
1. How is this industry regulated? What to excursion providers have to demonstrate regarding their expertise and the soundness of their equipment. What do customers have to demonstrate before they are accepted to go on excursions?
2. What (if any) alcohol is contributing to what seems to be episodes of disorientation my people in unfamiliar waters and what do the excursion providers do if they perceive someone to be drunk or at least perceive the have consumed too much to be able to handle the excursion responsibly?
Seems these incidents are happening quite often. I am sure they all sign waivers but eventually there is risk people won’t want to dive/snorkel and there is nothing to disprove that the equipment or staff negligence is to blame (although I am sure the waivers likely exclude liability even if there is negligence or faulty equipment). I think analysis is needed on what is causing these incidents and whether the regulations (if any) are sufficient to prevent them.
Everyone dies. I would rather die in the waters of Cayman than in Walmart in Arizona. I wouldn’t mind if there was a lifeguard around but god I hope we don’t get to the point where snorkelling in Cayman is ultra-regulated.
I knew her as a customer in my computer business – her husband who was with her told me that an undercurrent pulled her down and she had no way to get out of it. She was in her 70’s and she and her husband were pretty regular scuba divers. She did not drink or do drugs for those that were considering that might be a contributing cause.
Thank you for supplying this information. What a terrible tragedy. As awful as it is, I hope her husband and family gain some comfort from the knowledge that her life ended in a place that she must have loved doing an activity she must also have loved. May her soul rest in Heaven.
I would rather have a choice. Without adequate warning of the serious danger involved, she was denied that choice.
Far too many people have died snorkeling in Cayman waters. Young and old. What the hell is really going on?
Prayers for the family A true tragedy. Gail will be missed by many here on earth. She is an amazing woman.
Poor lady. Sending condolences to the family.
This would never have happened if we had a cruise pier.
Are we sure it was a drowning or could it have been a heart attack? or something else?
We need to be careful how and what we report in case it scares people away from wanting to swim in these waters.
Rest In Peace.
My heart goes out to the family and her friends.
Thank you. All the prayers we can use will be greatly appreciated.