August 2002

Vol. 17, No. 8     What's this?

Dear Undercurrent,

from the August, 2002 issue of Undercurrent  

While vacationing at Brac Reef Resort on Cayman Brac, our good friend Dr. Jerry Reynolds died of a massive coronary on his first dive of the week. Jerry was an active man who dived frequently. A relaxed diver who had completed several hundred dives, he indicated his need to ascend about eight minutes into the dive. He ascended rapidly in a manner incompatible with his knowledge and skill. Chris, the divemaster, immediately attended to Jerry’s wife, Susan, to make sure that she did not attempt to follow Jerry in a reckless manner. Chris then followed Jerry to get him to slow his ascent. Unfortunately, Jerry did not slow down, and when Chris reached him on the surface he was nearly unconscious.

Chris towed him to the boat, and she and Craig, the boat captain, got him into the boat, began emergency resuscitation, assisted Susan into the boat, and contacted the shop to call an ambulance and to send another boat to pick up divers in the water, because they needed to come in immediately. CPR with oxygen was continued on the short ride back to the dock and continued until the ambulance arrived.

Unfortunately, Jerry was pronounced dead not long after reaching the hospital, and the subsequent autopsy revealed a massive heart attack.

The staff of the resort and the dive shop acted professionally throughout the emergency and with great care and compassion in the aftermath. We were overwhelmed by their kindnesses, and by the kindness of the hospital staff, police department, and the funeral home on Grand Cayman.

DAN assisted us with repatriation and made a seemingly overwhelming series of tasks much more tolerable.

Vicki C. May,
W. S. May, Jr., M.D.
Georgetown, TX