Off-duty police officer dies on recreational dive

| 10/09/2012

Chris Devereux.jpg(CNS): Update with statement from the commissioner Tuesday 1:03pm —  The RCIPS has now named the off-duty officer who died yesterday while diving off Sunset House. He was Chris Devereux (54) from Liverpool in the UK, who joined the RCIPS last May. Just after 3.00pm on Monday Devereux, who had been shore diving with a colleague in the vicinity of the Mermaid, got into difficulty and lost consciousness. His colleague brought him to the surface, and staff from Sunset House immediately assisted, brought him to shore and performed CPR. When the ambulance crew arrived they continued CPR while conveying Devereux to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town. However, despite the efforts of dive staff and the paramedics, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Commissioner David Baines said in a release Tuesday afternoon, "Although Chris had only been with the RCIPS for a matter of months he had quickly become an integral part of the Drugs and Serious Crime Task Force. He was both well-liked and respected by colleagues. He will be remembered as a hard-working and committed officer who played a significant role in some of our most recent investigations. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends back in the United Kingdom."

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Local News

About the Author ()

Comments (14)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    This is someone who worked hard in his life to make a difference, and continued to do so here in Cayman and passed away far from his home shores.  Cayman, pay attention.  Not everyone coming here is trying to rip you off, they come here to bring their experience, do a job, and  to make that difference for our lives to be safe and better.  Chris, thank you, even for your short time in Cayman.  May you return home to Liverpool and rest in peace.

  2. Anonymous says:

    very sad news for the family and colleagues.  Deepest sympathies go out to his loved ones.

  3. Anonymous says:

    We Caymanians are saddened to learn of this tragic death. Our sympathy goes out to his dear familys, Mr Baines, and his working coleagues.  In his absence we woild like to thank him for all thehard work that he did for us. May his precious soul rest in peace.

  4. Anonymous says:

    My sincere condolences to his family and friends in England and his colleagues here in Cayman.  RIP RCIP Officer.

  5. Anonymous says:

    So sad to hear.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Condolences to the family and friends at this time. I am sure you will all have wonderful memories of your loved one.

  7. peter milburn says:

    My thoughts and prayers with your family at this time.

  8. Chopper says:

    I worked with Chris in the Merseyside Police in England up to his retirement.

    God bless Chris and thoughts to your family and friends at this dreadful time

    Chopper

  9. Anonymous says:

    Very sorry to hear of yet another death while diving.  Personally, I think there are far too many on-island and more safety and precautionary measures should be considered.  My sincere condolences to family and friends of the deceased.

    • Anonymous says:

      9:19  This is not the time or place to bring up a discussion as to whether your uneducated opinion about safety in diving here is expressed.  Condolences to the deceased's family is in order. RIP

  10. Anonymous says:

    I know we've all recently been having a laugh and joke about the RCIPS, but thoughts go out to his family and his colleagues in these tragic circumstances.

    • Anonymous says:

      You didn't have to mention about having "a laugh and joke about the RCIPS!!!!" You just didn't have to!!!!!!!!! I think that's rude to begin with and you are being a Bully while trying to be nice at the very same time.

      Rest in peace Officer… May God be with all family and loved ones at this time. To all the RCIPS Officers.. You guys continue to do your best always.

      • Anonymous says:

        You're absolutely right, of course, but I reckon it was a case of not realizing how inappropriate it was rather than anything else. While i didn't know the gentleman, to me Chris would have been a whole bunch of things – perhaps a husband and dad, a son, brother, uncle etc – ahead of being a police officer. That was merely his job, not who he was. But it is interesting how we often tend to define people first and foremost by their occupation.

    • Local says:

      Yeah, really sorry to hear about this man.