As reported by Doc V on scubadiving.com. Cause was cardiac arrest.

Prayers and condolences to the family and friends.

My thoughts and condolences to the family and friends as well. Thank you for letting us know, Cecil.

Cecil,

Can you give us a direct link, or the content??

In return for your effort, I give you this non-diving, non-Bonaire-related link. I believe all sides can be amused, if only at the effort. http://www.michaelhodges.com/stuff/funny/2008cc1.swf .

Amigoe has this short note at the bottom of today's online page http://www.amigoe.com/english/ :

Scuba diver died near Sand Dollar 

BONAIRE – A 46-year old American tourist that went diving near Sand Dollar Resort had trouble and died on site.  When his companions noticed that something was wrong, they immediately called for help.

Security personnel of the resort took immediate action and called the dive doctor on duty.  The doctor certified the American’s dead.  Apparently, he had a cardiac arrest.  The Public Prosecutor indicated that they are not concerned with this matter.

I was present when the attempts to revive him were made. I am still at Sanddollar for a few more days. (I have 2 kids with the flu here) There were at least 3 doctors who worked on him. One a cardioligist, one Dr. van Vooten from Bonaire and another one who said she was a doctor. Also the amubulance personnel were present. It evidently happened in the water at Bari reef. His buddy brought him in. It was after dark so the dive shop was all closed up.

Don't really know much else, other than I would have guessed he was older than 46, but given the situation I could be way off on that.

His wife(I presume?) was present during the attempts to revive him and was obviously very upset.

Keep them all in your prayers.

While I certainly understand what was meant by it -- it is perhaps a sad choice of words to say that the public prosecutor is "not concerned with this matter".

Again, my sympathy to the family and friends.

Kelly,
"The Public Prosecutor indicated that they are not concerned with this matter", means that it is obvious that the case is clear and that there is definatly no sign of any other (criminal?) activities on the spot. (= formal speaking)
I agree that the context might show a bit "strange" to some of us.
So sad to lose a person this way..........

I understand that Theo, I work for a Prosecutor's Office. That's why I said I understand what they meant. I just felt it was inappropriate wording. Regardless, my heart goes out to his wife. This is just gut-wrenching. No words.

Kelly, just a footnote on the wording. Having lived on Bonaire for three years and spent a lot of my life outside the United States, I recognize that wording as simply the way a non-native speaker of English is phrasing a thought in English. It is foreign rather than inappropriate. The person who said that had no idea that the wording might convey, to Americans, disrespect or lack of compassion. The speaker did not appreciate that the word "concern" has more than one meaning in English.
And we wonder why diplomacy fails and wars result!
Tish

Well said, Tish. I was trying to say it but, thankfully, trashed my attempt.

Our heartfelt sympathies and thoughts go out to the gentleman's family and friends. How horrifying and experience. Carole

This is just tragic....my condolences for the wife and family. Having a loved one die on your vacation is so hard and tragic. I hope that his wife can find peace at some point...

so sad.

Very sad to hear about this man's passing away; condolences to his partner, family and friends.

our heartful condolences to the family, and all those who knew and loved this man. Such a sad loss.
.. Teddy and Denise

Deepest Sympathies and Prayers for the Smith family!

Alynda

Tish, did it really take you THREE years to find us on BT?? Wow!!! I guess I was of the understanding you'd been there maybe only a year or so.. But we're glad you're here now.

Thanks, Kelly!
But I've been on BT since 2002. Guess I was pretty inconspicuous until recently.
Tish

My heatfelt sympathy to the family.

We got to the Sand Dollar August 6, and never heard a squeak about this all week. I am glad we didn't as I am 54, and my husband is 61. Our 14 y.o. son had just gotten certified last month in Wyoming. We did 6 shore dives and 6 boat dives. We did two night dives; one at Don's Habitat and one at Sand Dollar - Bari reef. We were all fine.

My heart goes out to the family of the man who died. Does anyone know if he had a history of heart problems? Just curious. I, too, am a physician.

Martha, I was present during the attempts to revive him. We were at Sand Dollar until last Tuesday.

There was discussion at the scene, that he had some stints put in recently and that he had also experienced some problems passing a stress test recently. All of these were just discusssions overheard at the time, I didn't know them. My ten year old son also witnessed the event. I am the same age as the man who passed away. Which seemed to cause him some concern.

I can say that all of the personnel present, 3 doctors in total and one a cardiologist worked diligently for quite a while before calling it off.

His wife was present during the attempts to revive him at the dock, although not diving with him at the time the attack occurred. As you can imagine she was extremely upset. She appeared to be a group of other people who were able to comfort her somewhat.

It was an extremely sad incident and our prayers are with the family.

Stents, whether put in recently or not, indicate coronary artery disease. It's upsetting for all if someone doesn't survive CPR, but even in the best or circumstances, the odds are poor for survival. My informal statistics are 20% for in-hospital survival (quality of survival not assessed), 5% for out-patient. Survival after cardiac arrest is depedant on many factors, including time to BLS, time to ALS and time to definitive care. Even with all odds in the patient's favor, survival after MI is poor.

A "healthy" 36 year old male in our running club died of an MI while on a 20 mile training run. He had run several marathons and was considered to be in excellent shape. He didn't share with his running companions his poor family history. It seems that men, in particular, are poor at sharing their medical/family history, minimizing their risk . This fellow seemed to be, based on athletic accomplishments and physique, to be in excellent condition. He may have been in excellent condition, but family history holds a "trump" card.

At 48 years of age, I'm unwilling to admit that I perhaps shouldn't be doing shore diving. But I no longer do the same challenging dives I did when I was younger. I realize that if I die while diving, although personably regretable, will affect my survivors (i.e. my wife and family) even more profoundly. My wife and I are both avid divers, are well aware of the risks of diving as a hobby but are not (yet} ready to give it up. Fellow vacationers on Bonaire, Paul and Ingrid were (are?) diving in their late 60's. I too hope to be diving when I'm 60.

You really crack me up, J, talking about being older at 48!
I didn't even get certified until I was 60, have done about 350 dives, and expect to hit 2,000 or so before I trade in my wet suit for a rocking chair.
You're absolutely right: Age is not the point. Health and family history are.
Happy diving!!
Tish

Tish,

You are an inspiration!! Are those 350 dives just since you moved to Bonaire?

Alynda

Well, hey there, Alynda!
Yup, nearly all of the dives since I moved to Bonaire, but I got certified on Bonaire before I moved here, and I did a few dives on Roatan as well.
Take care!
Tish

I will shortly turn 61 and really take issue with 48 being too old for shore diving. We just spent a week on Bonaire and at half of our dives were shore dives. With the exception of getting out of the water at Angel City, because we came out slightly off target, we didn't find the shore dives any more strenuous than the boat dives.

Like many pursuits, attitude has a lot to do how difficult anything is. Many years ago I was fly fishing with a friend in Colorado a few days before his 40th birthday. He informed me that it was "downhill" from there because he was turning 40. For him, it was true, he gained 15-20 pounds and rarely got any exercise. Life is what you make of it and I believe in making the most of it.

Funny, I thought life began at 40!! WOO HOO!!!

Gerry, I agree. Live each day to its' fullest!

Tish, to heck with giving up on diving, put fins on that rocker when the time comes and rock your way around the reefs;-{)}

Awesome notion, Tom, but I'm not headed for that rocker for a LONG time!!

Good to hear Tish!!:-{)}

Tish, Diane and I met you at Gibis May of this year and we had a good conversation about diving and other things. My average is 49 dives a year and have been diving 41 years. You should pass that 2000 mark sooner then you think.. Just do the math. For those of you who have not met this nice lady she is a ball to talk with and I'm sure would make a good dive buddy.

Tish we will be on the Island Oct 15th at the Dive Inn and hope to see you at Gibis again.. Ron

Tish, you are a diving machine! Do you do, like, 4 dives a day or what? lol! I'm only 38 and you make me look positively sedentary!

Hey, no, Kelly. Just 4 to 6 dives per week. When you live on Bonaire, they add up.
Sure, Ron, I remember the fun you and Diane and I had.
I'll be away but back on island just before you two arrive. Look forward to seeing you at Gibi's again.
Tish

200+ dives per year is ALOT Tish! 600 dives in three years, that just makes me TIRED thinking about it! Of course my local diving is quarry diving... not interested in 4 dives per week here! lol!

Living on Bonaire makes all the difference.
Not that many dives per year so far because I've been off island some, but soon that will change. I could happily dive every day here were it not for my writing assignments.
But quarry diving--no way! Better you than me,Kelly.
Tish

Having had a heart attack while on vacation in Utila I suggest that most people have a doctor's checkup if diving and if they are past the age of 45. Especially "Americans"... There are warnings signs that most people put off as common everyday pains but...