Cruise passenger dies diving

(CNS): A 57-year-old male cruise ship passenger from Oklahoma died on Thursday morning after getting into difficulty diving with a buddy off Grand Cayman. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said it has now started an investigation.

The 911 Emergency Communications Centre received a call at approximately 10.55 am from a staff member of Divers Down who reported that an unconscious man was being brought to the West Bay Dock.  Medics responded to the scene and transported the man to hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead. Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department started an investigation and have found that the man, from Oklahoma, had been visiting the Cayman Islands on a cruise ship.

 He and a friend had left the ship in the morning and rented air tanks from Divers Down. During the dive it appears the victim got into difficulty and passed out. He was brought to shore while CPR was conducted by his dive buddy. An investigation is underway by the RCIPS and officers send their condolences to the family of friends of the victim.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling crime stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.