BERMUDA (26 May 2003) -- An American tourist died on Saturday of a suspected heart attack while scuba diving off the South Shore. Timothy Ciszczon, 44, was unresponsive when he was brought to the surface and put on the dive boat Cracklin Rosy on South Shore, Southampton, shortly before noon. Police said Mr. Ciszczon was given CPR as the boat took him into the dock of the Fairmont Southampton Hotel at Whale Bay. Four firefighters from Port Royal station were waiting at the dock as the boat pulled in and they used an automated external defibrillator to try to jerk Mr. Ciszczon's heart back into a rhythm, said Fire spokesman Lieutenant Dana Lovell yesterday. The tourist was then transferred over to a nurse and emergency team from the King Edward VII Memorial who continued to give him CPR as he was rushed to hospital. But Mr. Ciszczon, of South Bend, Indiana, was pronounced dead a short time later. The cause of death has not yet been established and it is understood an autopsy has not yet been performed. Lt Lovell said: "The report we received was of a person having a suspected heart attack while diving. | | "We arrived at the dock before the boat arrived and observed that they were performing CPR on the man before he arrived at the dock. "They went on the boat and went into rapid intervention mode. There was a smooth transfer over (to hospital staff), but unfortunately it was a bad outcome." Mr. Ciszczon was staying at the Fairmont Southampton and had been on holiday with his brother Christopher, who did not wish to comment yesterday. Harbour Radio confirmed yesterday that Cracklin Rosy is run by Dive Bermuda, which operates at the Fairmont Southampton. Dive Bermuda did not return a call for comment yesterday and none of the senior management at the hotel were on duty. Police said a full investigation is being carried out into the death. SOURCE - Royal Gazette |
