American tourist dies after morning dive in East End

| 10/08/2011

(CNS): A 64-year-old man visiting the Cayman Islands on vacation from the United States has died following a dive in the eastern districts. A spokesperson for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said that an investigation has now been launched into the death of John Bonner, which occurred around 11am Wednesday 10 August. Police were informed that the diver from Pennsylvania had experienced difficulties and lost consciousness whilst boarding a vessel after completing a dive off in East End. Bonner was diving with a family member when the incident occurred and he was brought on board the vessel with the assistance of staff from the resident dive company .

The dive company staff administered CPR until the arrival of the emergency services and the visitor was conveyed to the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The man was staying at the Reef Resort with his wife and daughter.

Police said enquiries into the death are ongoing.

CNS note: The initial RCIPS press release about this incident named the dive company as Reef Divers. However, the police have now said that the deceased was staying at the Reef Resort in East End Grand Cayman and there was no connection to Reef Divers based and operated out of the Sister Island Little Cayman.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service wishesto apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    My sympathy to the family and the dive boat employees.  That is a difficult situation and so frightening.  One question:  Are AED's required on all dive boats.  They need to be! 

    A caring friend of the CI's

     

  2. Anonymous says:

    These sad events are often reported as "got in to or experienced difficulties" but we never seem to hear the causes, such as equipment failure, health of the individual, current too stong, inexperienced diver. I think for the safety of others we need more information on the causes of diving deaths & accident here so others can learn from it & be safer.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wrong. Coroner's Inquest reports are published in the newspaper.

    • Anonymous says:

      With thousands of divers and many of them over 50 and not in particularly good shape, you're going to have a certain number of medical emergencies. It can happen even if everything is done right. I don't know what happened here but it is certainly true that most of the reported diving deaths involve people beyond a certain age. Life is just more fragile the older you are.

  3. Anonymous says:

    How sad.

    According to this report the diver was diving and staying in East End but diving with a dive operator that only operates out of the Brac.  Doesn't make sense.

    • Just Commentin' says:

      Huh? What is sad is your knowledge of the islands. Last time I checked the Reef Resort was in Grand Cayman. The Brac Reef Beach Resort is located in Cayman Brac. Didja get confused or wha?

      (Hey, Nicky, I would suggest that in addition to the "Thumbs" you add a "Rolling Eyes" vote icon because the 22:50 comment is certainly deserving.)

      • Anonymous says:

         

        I was not the person who wrote at 22:50 but i'll ask you.. do YOU know the island?? he/she was correct…. Yes the reef resort is in East End, Grand Cayman, but reef divers is located on the Brac… which is what he/she stated.  

        Hey, Nicky, I would suggest that in addition to the "Thumbs" you add a "Rolling Eyes" vote icon because the 18:45 comment is certainly deserving.

      • The Beaver says:

        You don't have to be an a$$ about it.  Just commentin'…  The Beaver