(CNS): A 68-year-old-resident died this morning after getting into difficulty on Seven Mile Beach. Police said emergency services were called to the beach location shortly after 8:30am following a report that the man was in distress. CNS understands that the man was in the water when he was found unresponsive and taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
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I was there with my family when the vendors noticed the gentleman in the water. Those vendors tried endlessly to revive him but unfortunately it was too late. Needless to say it was a sad thing to witness.
Why do we need lifeguards? Don’t swim out too far from shore and swim with a buddy. I don’t understand what a lifeguard will do most of the day when this happens so rarely. Probably play on their phone and not even pay attention to the swimmers.
This is a sad situation but honestly, there are too many miles of beaches and no money to pay these people. How about we get rid of all the beach loungers stacked high right in the way of the view of the ocean and then maybe someone on the beach might have spotted him to lend a helping hand?
My gosh, you people are ignorant.
We prefer realists.
See the last comment, he didn’t die from drowning. No lifeguard would have prevented this.
No money??? $1.3 Million on an already broken up sidewalk and no money?
That money shouldn’t have been used for that idiotic thing. The public schools need help because these kids coming out of them are tragic.
The times I have read this sad news is unbelievable. Yes, as some posters said, you can’t install a lifeguard in every crack and corner but you certainly can have them situated on SMB which is the most popular area for swimmers. Tourists are not coming here for the shopping. They are here for the sun, sea and relaxation. Therefore, it’s only fitting that this island would like them to enjoy and feel safe knowing lifeguards are in place whilst they swim incase of an emergency. Just like they would feel safe knowing there are competent Doctors at the hospital. This is not a third world country Cayman! This is not exclusive, coastal areas all over the world have lifeguards on their beaches. lifeguards should also be placed in Rum Point, another popular swimming area. This facility is not just aimed at tourists it’s for the benefit of residents too. I don’t know what it is, but there are a lot of swimming deaths here. Probably due to the weather and that it is a holiday destination, a lot more people are taking to the waters. That’s why it should be more important that lifeguards are in place!
Wont they just charge $5pp to get on the beach..I dont think tourists wouldn’t have a problem paying..im a tourist thats visits often on cruises..
This argument over and over. Tell me a real good reason why there cannot be lifeguards on th beaches?? I just don’t buy it. We cater to tourism, right??? At least that’s what is in the news every other day…and we want locals to have jobs right.???? Also in the news constantly. Why in the heck are we not having training for some of our bright young local people in the form of life guarding ….and put them on the beaches.
Omg…..yeah it comes at somewhat of a price , but who cares. Wake up Cayman. Where there are beaches there are lifeguards. Whether you like it or not….whether it’s cost efficient or not, it should be promoted and in place that our Cayman Islands have such a thing in place. Duhhhh.
It’s like anything else as far as emergency services or help goes…..you can’t be everywhere at all times. But to have lifeguards in place from , whatever….8 to 4, whatever…..would at least be something to start. You have to start somewhere.
And even if these things are in place, people still drown…..die. It just happens…..it’s a bitch but it’s the truth.
If they can spend all this money on building million dollar boardwalks, ripping out trees from town, politicians going overseas to promote the beaches( safe beaches I guess), …..then I think spending a little dough on lifeguards wouldn’t be the worst thing. Stupid is as stupid does. Wake up Cayman, it’s your time.
Borrow some of the lifeguards from the Turtle Centre, they just sit on their asses all day and there is a lot of them.
9.38pm Where have they ripped out trees? Are you talking about the large tree removed from in front of the West wind Bldg by Dart?
So sad may he Rest In Peace and may his family find comfort and peace over time.
Sad 🙁
Very sad news. Heartfelt condolences to all of his family and friends.
Why doesn’t Cayman have life guards on it’s public beaches?
Rhymes with “honey”
There are 100 miles of public beaches to patrol. How many lifeguards do you propose?
2. At public beach.
Which one? Why that one? What hours? How many shifts? What training? What equipment? This is a tragedy but is not something that can be prevented by having “lifeguards” in particular locations. The sea is beautiful and dangerous. She will give and she will take when and where she pleases.
Virtually the entire east coast of the United States has figured out how, where, and how many lifeguards to station at popular beaches. These “lifeguards” regularly manage to save lives. The notion suggested by your questions – that nobody can figure out how to train and deploy lifeguards for effective results – flies in the face of the experience of civilized countries around the globe with vast coastlines.
You’re an idiot. Lifeguards save lives. Put them at the most frequented areas. Have a patrol boat that works 7 mile beach (and Stingray).
So much frivolous spending on trips to Monaco that could go towards these types of useful expenditures.
9.22am Those frivolous trips to Monaco are used to attempt to generate interest in registering more ships here and thereby increase Government revenue….some of which would be used to pay for Government services including lifeguards should Government decide to employ some.
You are an ass. Doesn’t matter how many you need. Tourism and safety equals dollars. Training local people as lifeguards equal year round employment. Most places it is seasonal……here it is and should be year round.
The hotels and such can provide there own , just mandate it. The government just has to provide for the public beaches. Small price to pay, and employs the people. I guess your against that?????
Is it really that much to patrol???? Let’s look at Florida, California, New Jersey, Carolinas,………all the coastal towns. They are larger than here and all seem to do it. Tell me why we can’t? Because there’s no money$$$
Because all the money is being spent on boardwalks that will never be used?
Spent on ripping out trees in Georgetown???
Politicians taking trips yachting and taking people out to lunch and dinner???
I. Call…Bullsh*t.
Load of crap……………….persons lives are worth more than any of this.
Cut out the salary of one of these worthless MLAs and put some lifeguards in place.
Save one life and it’s worth it.
Where does it say that this was at a Public beach?
Yes it was by the public bathrooms.
“CNS understands that the man was in the water when he was found unresponsive” – they got public bathrooms in the water now?
Politicians hell bent on cruis berthing, not life gaurds.
I am 62 years old and would not consider going i to the water without having a family member or friend near. No lifeguard will watch you like your own.
We are so sorry cant do much for him this morning. Thanks to all the beach vendors who was helping him. RIP
That first sentence. What a weird thing to say.
How many of them are licensed and how many first aid/CPR trained?
The answer is….NONE
I have promised myself before not to comment on CNS anymore due to the nature of ignorant keyboard warriors with their negative and pointless views, but this is a matter of me putting in my 2cents, or maybe 5 instead.
The gentleman in question didn’t actually died from drowning but probably suffered a major heart attack, as according to his spouse he was complaining about pains to the left side of his body, mostly in his arm before entering into the water, but I’m not a doctor and only the coroner can give an account as to what caused this poor gentleman’s demise, but common sense which BTW most of you all seems to be lacking, shows that he was found floating face down not too far from the shore in the shallow, plus there where no signs of panic(splashing and screaming) and he was a really tall guy that could have stood on the bottom with out difficulties, and due to the keen observation by a vendor who noticed the situation right away relayed the action to a watersports operator who reacted immediately and swiftly on retrieving this gentleman to the shore.
The whole point is that there was nothing anyone could have done to save his life and at the end of the day even if there where 10 lifeguards available the results would have still remained the same.
I would like to thank all of who where involved on trying to save this man’s life but when its your time to go there ain’t much that can be done and situations like this can leave a traumatic burden on one’s shoulders.
Keyboard warriors consider your luck of hiding behind a computer/phone screen, and God forbid anyone of you are faced with such a dilemma like this, so please give credit where credit is due and stop with the assumptions of blaming the vendors who serves more of a greater purpose on this island than anyone of you POS.
Remember you could even be a king or a simple beach sweeper but one day we all will have to dance with the reaper.
R.I.P big guy, it is one of the best ways to go, crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, hopefully I too can meet such a faith.
Spot on