Divers find unconscious visitor in sea off Eden Rock

| 03/03/2014

(CNS) Updated: The 46-year-old Canadian man whose body was found on the ocean floor this weekend in around 20 feet of water has been named by police as Timothy Denver Mullin from Etobikoe in Toronto. Police said that Mullin who had arrived in Cayman on Saturday had gone snorkelling alone at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon as his mother with whom he was visiting Cayman had waited on shore. His body was found in the Eden Rock area at around at 5:29pm by divers who were returning from a dive towards Don Foster’s Dive shop in South Church Street. The divers brought the man’s body back to shore and police and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene.

Mullin was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5.55pm. Police said that enquiries are ongoing into how the man died but that there appears to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Ok.. This is a serious matter that needs to be dealt with urgency.. Way too many foreigners are dying in our waters. and it seems to be middle aged or older men.. There should be some regulation if you are over a certain age, someone else should accompany you. This is sooo sad.. My condolenscences to the families who have lost loved ones to our waters..

    • Anonymous says:

      Money is the problem.  Too many local companies making too much from the industry and not being responsible for accidents because of the absence of statutory restrictions on waivers for damages for injuries caused by negligence.  Cayman will be a death trap for tourists until the cruise ship companies take a stand with the Government, because otherwise the Government will turn a blind eye.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I have a good analogy for everyone who thinks that tourists and others should be given more advice and guidance about conditions before going into the water. First of all they get advice all the time and ignore it. I am constantly telling tourists where and when to go snorkeling and diving from shore. I give advice about why or why not choose a particularly remote site. They ignore this advice because… well.. who knows why?I'm only the trained professional who has been working 9 years in the relevant industry. What do I know right? Or perhaps it's the natural inclination for people to not allow anyone else to tell them what they can and can't do. Who knows.

    So, the analogy: Crossing the street. I learned how to do this literally in Kindergarten. I walked to school with my friends and a sibling from the time I was in grade 1. I had to know the rules. Look both ways. Cross at intersections. Wait for cars to stop before walking into the road. Hurry when crossing. Keep watching. Use crosswalks. Wait for the light. Etc. So, as adults you would think we should know how to cross the street. Yet, we don't and deaths occur. People then declare that something should be done to improve safety and to prevent these deaths. So crosswalks have been put in along west bay road. Has anyone else noticed how many people are too damn lazy to walk 20 feet to get to them before crossing? Some people are just determined to do their own thing no matter how much advice or safety is provided. 

    How do you make life perfectly safe other than to live in a bubble and who wants to do that?

  3. Anonymous says:

    Should we have a Flag system showing when caution should be taken when swimming due to currents & waves? I went diving a bit further along the coast & the sea was a bit choppy that day; ok if diving, but maybe not for snorkelling. There's some places I wouldn't snorkel at all if it's a bit rough, & visitors need to have some guidance on this as currently there is no one to tell them.

    • Anonymous says:

      It could work. But who would do it?

      If government we have (a) new person(s) hired and (b) issues of lost revenue whent hey hoist the flag. (Ask the NS boat guys how the 'closing the sand bar due to weather' system currently works.)

      If the private companies (e.g. Eden Rock in this example) they already do that anyway. But it remains a judgement call. And what happens if they judge it closed but Don Foster's judge it open? Lost revenue. Bringing us back to theNorth Sound example where some will still go out even after the Sand Bar has been 'closed'.

  4. Anonymous says:

    To the people that have put so many thumbs down a reason that they are against life guards? It would not cost the dive operators any more in wages as the staff are already in the dive shop

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Please keep in mind that not all dive operators run snorkeling trips.  Actually many of snorkeling trips are run by non dive operations.

      There are industry standard in training for those running dive trips there are none for those doing snorkeling.

    • Anonymous says:

      Dive instructors are not trained life guards. So you are wrong. It would require more staff. 

      • Anonymous says:

        But the staff are trained in sea rescues? I am not in the trade so appreciate you answering, I am not being rude I'm just trying to understand

         

        • Anonymous says:

          Dive instructors are trained in sea rescues of divers. This training would be useful in the event of an emergency. However, they are not legally considered lifeguards. Lifeguard training is different. Enacting a law that would require lifeguards would require dive operations to hire lifeguards. At the moment the dive centres I am familiar with already take steps to know who is going in the water through their property. Options are already available for people who want supervision to hire guides. If someone feels that they do not wish to have supervision and that they are capable of entering the water on their own despite the conditions, no law is going to stop them, just like no law seems capable of stopping drivers from talking on their cell phones (which causes many more problems than people snorkelling). 

  5. Anonymous says:

    I think every tourist entering the country must pass a medical exam and sign a waiver and non-disclosure in the event of death agreement upon arriving at the airport. Lifeguards every 10 feet along the beach and personal chauffeurs for those who haven't driven on this side of the road before. All meals should be tried by taste testers first. The parasailing should be banned altogether as should Scuba diving. Much too dangerous. All hotel rooms must be fitted with air purifiers and visitors must be allotted an adequate supply of personal evian water for the duration of their stay. Each visitor will be accompanied by a body guard at all times. 

  6. Anonymous says:

    Condolences to the family of the deceased man. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Condolences to his mother, who along with her son, visited a local church the same day. May his soul rest in peace.

  7. Anonymous says:

    This is getting from bad to worse. Come on people!

  8. Anonymous says:

    again? CNS how many does that make so far this year? Is it time for some new regulations and guidelines?

  9. Anonymous says:

    we really need to have some sort of lifeguard system,even people in a high chair,with binoculars.The problem is, there is no restrictions on where a tourist can dive/snorkel.they should atleast  ensure that they have a buddy/spotter in case of anything.my condolence to the family.

  10. Jonas Dwyer says:

    Where will it end, what does it take for Government and the Wayersports Associations to examine this en toto, more deaths, bad press?. I guess right now we need a crystal ball.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Is there any way we can get ALL dive operations to have a Life Guard on duty when they have snorklers?  The Staff should be trained already, would it be possible to have one of them on a jet ski

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Their medical history should be known –  medication as well.  These are important factors.

      Condolences to the family.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      What does it have to do with a dive operation? It clearly states he went alone, please dont comment on things you clearly know nothing about.

  12. Anonymous says:

    A  other tourist dies in Cayman. This is sounding bad reading about a other tourist  dieing in the Cayman Island .Do anyone know what was the cause of the other people that lost their life so tragic ? Do anyone know if the other deaths has been investigated ? I give my simipty and condolance to the family . This is getting too serious to not start looking into , if we want to continue to be a tourist/diveing destination .

    • Anonymous says:

      These deaths are reviewed and corner's inquests allow for a review of cause of death.  Generally there is an underlying health condition listed as a contributing factor.

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      I think you need to go back to school bobo

    • Anonymous says:

      Please learn how to use spell-check before posting. How embarrassing.

  13. Anonymous says:

    I think they need to start placing signs at all our beaches stating "Enter water at your own risk" and have all tourists sign waivers. This is an every week thing. SMH

    • Anonymous says:

      It is so sad but I think tourists themselves need to be more responsible and not go diving/snorkeling alone and make certain that they understand how to handle themselves in the water.