US visitor dies after snorkelling off 7MB

| 16/05/2019 | 29 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): A 51-year-old man visiting the Cayman Islands from Massachusetts, USA, was pronounced dead at the Cayman Islands Hospital Wednesday evening after snorkelling off Seven Mile Beach, south of Governor’s Beach. The man was said to have encountered difficulties in the water and was brought to shore. Members of the public conducted CPR on the man until the arrival of emergency services. He was taken to the hospital around 5pm, where the police attended. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

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  1. 345Watersolutions says:

    They ca handle it probably never swam much or any at all we need give them the bay watch style and have professional life guards and not a joker bum of the street, must have a certain level of serious service and dedication. Those who thumbs down may never know when you may need to be saved some day even on a simple evening swim.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I was there when this happened, it was a tragedy. I believe that one of the individuals that was conducting CPR was a lifeguard and just happened to be there. The other individual knew how to care for these situations as well. They both worked very hard to keep him alive until the medics came. What was disturbing was the speed of the medics when they finally arrived…They were walking, not running, one of the guys did tell his team to hurry (the only one running) others near by did as well as they walked by and one of them told a woman to shut up. When they finally got there, they did not have an AED, this could have possibly saved the mans life. It was a sad terrible situation to see. Our condolences also go out to the family and friends.

    Maybe this should not be a question about lifeguards, but rather how the “professionals” reacted. The people that were there prior to the medics did an amazing job and gave all they could!

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    • Anonymous says:

      there was a case in Bermuda when paramedic did not exercise due care and a man died (different circumstances). His family sued.

    • Anonymous says:

      I have a friend who works in EMS in Florida. He gets quite a few calls on the beach similar to this one. One thing he told me is running is the #1 thing you don’t do, it causes an increase in tunnel vision and impedes your concentration. 2nd; you don’t want to take an AED on the beach where the ocean is! They more than likely carried a bunch of equipment to get him out of there, so running with that shit could possibly risk more injury for one them. Then if one of them is injured who is going to be available to help that guy out ? Maybe do a ride along and see what they actually do and understand the type of training they go through. My buddy has seen a lot and been in the field for 20 years.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Thank you for the insight, I do appreciate it and understand. I think with the individuals that did have medical training on the scene (members of the public) but no equipment, it was discouraging. I can understand the reason not to run. It was a terrible accident to witness and just hope that everyone involved learns something from these situations.

        • Anonymous says:

          And it’s understandable to feel that way. There’s also a lack of education too, that is something services around the world should strive for is at least educating the public what they do.

    • Anonymous says:

      The ambulance service is trained to never run into any situation for their own safety.

  3. Anonymous says:

    So you all concerned about visitor’s safety, who are grown up people taking all the risks and benefits of traveling, YET safety of Cayman’ children is out of your concern. ONLY !!!!!! 15 comments on CNS piece “Why isn’t more done to prevent child abuse?”

    You are all HYPOCRITES!

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Lifeguards aren’t the answer. Keeping everyone out of the water is the only way to stop water related accidents. Shut up about lifeguards. It’s inevitable with the risk involved. Just like I know the risk of my plane crashing every time I get on another flight goes up. Sad to hear this though, but at least he wasn’t at work!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Lifeguards would help, and just because they would not mean 100% safety, which no-one said they could, that is no reason to oppose them. You keeping counting the profits from visitors and ignore the large number of body bags going back to the US.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    we cannot always blame the water / sea for these deaths. It could be that the person had a heart problem for example and would have died no matter where he was.
    Get a grip.

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  6. Ironside says:

    Regarding lifeguards suggestions.

    Here’s where a liability may come to be. If hotels and condominiums employ lifeguards to patrol their stretches of beach for the safety of their own guests, say something unfortunately happens, someone drowns, who’s getting sued?

    I suppose having the guests sign a waiver indicating no preexisting medical issues that they know about, and signing a statement saying ‘if something happens while they are out in the water, in the establishment’s swim area (and not at some other hotel/condo swim area), that the guest will not hold the establishment liable.’

    With the legal liability put on the person(s), with the establishment making sure that they provide a safe area to enter and exit and enjoy the swim areas, etc, then I believe hotels/condos would feel more comfortable to hire their own lifeguards. But why should they? Read on.

    I believe for lifeguards to patrol the Public swim areas in our sea (which is everywhere in the Cayman Islands) is a task wholly on the Government and its Public Services department to provide, just like they do now with Ambulance, Police and Fire Services.

    Some will say that it’s yet another expense for the public to pay for (sure, it’s to protect/help the Publc,
    each other, rich or poor, without prejudice). Is it a form of Socialism? Yes. It seems like a dirty word these days, but that’s what it is. Not all evil as some would lead you to believe. Or others who regurgitate said beliefs.

    If you are serious about caring and wanting to save (or try as best) people from drowning, then consider all the players and moves and what’s best for everyone and not just place the blame on the private establishments and for them to solve.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Why would you morons put a thumbs down for a suggestion of hotels considering lifeguards??

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because we haven’t yet had a referendum on the matter

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because you lot moan about public access to public beaches, so you lot can pay for the lifeguards.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Here are the first 10 I can think of.

      1. Because each location (and there are potentially hundreds) would need to hire three lifeguards to cover breaks, vacations, and other absences.

      2. Because it will be very difficult and expensive to find and retain appropriate persons to do the job full time.

      3. Because unlike in the great USA our beaches and waters are busiest in the winter and spring, which is when the young people who do the jobs in the USA will be in school.

      4. Because we have more miles of coastline than we do square miles of land.

      5 Because persons are often getting into difficulty a long way from where any lifeguard station may be.

      6. Because the problems are not usually undertows and currents (where lifeguards can make a big difference) but underlying medical conditions that a lifeguard can practically do little about.

      7. Because our beaches are covered with CPR qualified persons, scuba divers, and many others, who can and will and do fulfil the roles of lifeguards. The more remote places (where there is no one to help a victim) are also those where there would be no lifeguard.

      8. Because (horrifically) if you employ a “professional” lifeguard and someone dies (which many victims needing assistance will anyway) you are likely to get sued.

      9. Because we all have to exercise responsibility – including operating a buddy system when swimming out of our depth. The government and hotels are not our nannies!

      10. Because the better (and much more appropriate) way to help would be to ensure every student and hotel worker has basic CPR qualification, and for coastal businesses to have basic defibrillator’s. That I would fully support.

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  8. Ron Ebanks says:

    I have been saying that there’s a problem in all these unexpected accidently deaths to our visitors /tourist and it needed to have been addressed long time ago . But the people called me crazy and thumbed my comments down , and said it’s no problem and the victims are just old .

    I give the victim’s family my deepest regards, RIP .

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  9. Anonymous says:

    If someone dies while soaking in their tub is it called a “water related death”?

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    • 👻 says:

      Alright, alright. Look, I’m the only one around here that’s allowed to do George Carlin jokes, m’kay?!

  10. Anonymous says:

    A “Christian nation” is happy to make hundreds of millions from tourism but is happy to let tens of tourists a year die within yards of shore and not pay for lifeguards on 7MB.

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  11. David Franco says:

    I think it’s time we brought in lifeguards. This could save countless lives while also creating more jobs!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Certainly at the beachfront resorts and isolated snorkeling attractions.

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    • Sand Whitey says:

      Why bring in lifeguards?? I’m more than sure we can find suitable candidates right here locally, especially knowing how US Caymanians love the beach so much.. Things we can do straight from here we should do instead of importing other people to do it.. I’m with you though, we do NEED life guards!!!

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Dear me, yet another death in Caymans waters. It seems this is happening very often. No one is to blame and we don’t know all the full facts of this tragedy. Lifeguards here and there may help but it doesn’t necessarily mean swimmers will be saved. This unfortunate gentleman may have had a medical issue that no one could have saved. However, I think the hotels should really consider putting lifeguards in place considering the huge amount of tourists/locals that are using these waters.
    May you rest in peace Sir. Deepest condolences to your family. So tragic.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    What’s the total death in our waters this year ? They soon name us the deadly waters . Condolences to the family .

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    • Anonymous says:

      We don’t count the many dead, we count the tourists arriving and dollars the dollars they bringing.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Condolences to the family. 51 is too young!

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