MARIGOT–French-side sea rescue service SNSM reported on Tuesday, a guest on a catamaran day charter passed away on June 22, 2017, despite a rapid intervention by SNSM with doctors and nurses to assist the catamaran crew.
SNSM was alerted to the medical emergency by Centre Régional Opérationnel de Surveillance et Sauvetage (CROSS) at 11:19am to carry out an evacuation of the victim who appeared to have suffered a heart attack. Four SNSM volunteers were ready to go within 10 minutes of the call and departed with a doctor and three nurses.
The victim had been swimming behind the catamaran at anchor in Anguilla when he suddenly felt unwell. The 53-year old man apparently suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The catamaran crew first thought it was a panic attack as the man was agitated and incoherent. The man’s family decided to cut the day short and asked the skipper to take them as quickly as possible back to St. Martin. However, on the way the victim stopped breathing and his heart stopped. The catamaran crew immediately began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in an effort to resuscitate him.
Meanwhile, SNSM’s Rescue Star inflatable arrived alongside the catamaran in the Anguilla channel and a nurse took over the CPR and a doctor prepared the defibrillator. It was decided to try and stabilise the victim on board the catamaran before transferring him to the Rescue Star.
Both vessels then arrived at the Marigot ferry terminal around 12:10 and the victim was rushed to the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital.
Sadly, the medical team reported the man died about an hour later.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/67229-charter-catamaran-guest-dies-after-medical-emergency-at-sea
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