Tourist panics while snorkelling, taken to hospital

| 07/03/2014

(CNS): A visitor to the Cayman Islands panicked while snorkelling Thursday afternoon and almost drowned. The RCIPS said that the 42-year-old man believed he had been bitten on his foot while he was snorkelling the reef off Governor's Beach. He panicked and become disoriented and inhaled water as a result, but managed to get to a buoy, where he held on and shouted for help. Three people on the beach heard his calls for help and swam out to his rescue and assisted him to the shore. The EMS arrived shortly afterwards and he was taken to the George Town hospital, where he is undergoing medical treatment.

This latest incident comes in the wake of the deaths of two other male visitors while snorkelling off George Town and West Bay in the last five days.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    It's absolutely horrible what has happenned to the reef off of the Governers Beach.  The fish expect every snorkeler to feed them.  If you don't have food you are guaranteed the aggressive fish will take a bite of you.  I have witnessed visitors exiting the water with open wounds.  Snorkel guides are the cause of this problem.  So sad Cayman allows this practice to continue.  

  2. Anonymous says:

    Floatation device should be included with every rental

    • Anonymous says:

      Not all people rent many coming off the ships or stay over have their own equipment.  There is really no way to control it all

    • Anonymous says:

      …… And 'food' for the fishes should not. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    I remember snorkelling Eden Rock one time and a female tourist took an aerosol of cheese whiz. At the first squirt the ocean erupted around her as every fish within 25 feet surrounded her. She screamed and got straight out. I thought it was funny but I see now how someone could flip out and end up getting in difficulties. The moral? Don't feed the fish. 

  4. Anonymous says:

    I can undersatnd how he felt some of the fish can get a little aggresive but most of the time don't bite and the Tarpon do look rather intimidating when you're in the water..

  5. Anonymous says:

    I wouldnt doubt if this was the case with all the deaths occuring in the water… They see a fish, feel a fish get panicked and drown, seems pretty logical to me. Hell I was born and raised here all my life swam in the sea every summer jumped off the docks and swam out to the bouys, but that wont happen anymore, scaredsh**less of the ocean now. I would probably have a heart attack if i went out too far. After IVAN only God knows what came over the reef with all those waves.

    • Anonymous says:

      You got to be kidding!!! What could possibly come over the reef??? A monster from the black lagoon?????

       

      • Anonymous says:

        NO monster but lets start with all the tiger sharks that our amazing MLA (s) had the fishing boats kill on the hush hush after ivan out there by Stingray City and how about that awesome Hammer head hanging around seven mile beach. My O My how we are all so quick to forget these headlines and so much more… im sorry but if i cant see in front of me i wont be going in! Clearly you are more hopeful so may the lord be with you!

      • Anonymous says:

        Blood sucking politician

  6. Anonymous says:

    snorkel guides taking cruise ship passengers out to that reef have been feeding the chub and Sargent Major fish inorder to attract the fish and this has resulted in a change of behaviour. Every time you go out there you get surrounded by hordes of fish thinking they will get fed, when they don't they take a nip. It's not the fault of the fish, just the greedy tour operators.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Glad he’s ok.