Three saved, one dies in ‘fortunate’ boat rescue

Four people aboard a small craft that overturned in rough surf in South Sound Saturday afternoon were rescued by a nearby dive boat.

However, despite the best efforts of the three-person dive crew, one man aboard the capsized boat, Oscar Shaw, died. Mr. Shaw was the father of a serving Royal Cayman Islands Police officer.

According to the RCIPS, the police helicopter was monitoring the South Sound area already and spotted the boat floating 600
metres off shore in heavy surf.

All four people on board the boat
were in trouble, with the craft taking on water. While the helicopter
was over the scene, radioing for assistance, the boat capsized throwing
all four people into the water, police said. 

The Sunset Divers watercraft was in the area, attempting to rescue a kite surfer who had lost their “kite” – in an incident unrelated to the overturned vessel. It was later learned the kite surfer swam to shore.

Ken Thompson with Sunset Divers said the craft then proceeded over to pick up the passengers on board the 16-foot boat that had capsized.

“It was just fortunate that they were in the area,” Mr. Thompson said. “Our boat captain Pete Foster-Smith and the crew did a great job.”

The Sunset Divers boat crew threw out buoyancy vests and life-rings to
the boaters and commenced a rescue of all four who were drifting apart. 
The Sunset Divers crew entered the water on several occasions to
assist  two of the stricken boaters, and rendered initial first aid to
the recovered victims, according to police.  

This included continuous CPR on a man who was pulled from the water in critical condition. The rescue attempt continued
until the boat docked at Sunset House to transfer to EMS personnel that
had been requested on standby by the police helicopter.

“The response and the efforts of the Sunset Divers staff, who were close
to the scene, prevented this tragic accident being even worse, and
indeed they should be commended for their continued efforts to give all
four victims their best possible chance of survival,” said RCIPS Chief Inspector Martin Bodden.

Marine Unit officers attended the location on Jet Skis to assist
in a further search with the helicopter for a fifth person who was believed
missing from the kite surfing incident, but this person was later found ashore and safe. .

The
position of the capsized boat was marked and the boat was later
recovered by a Port Authority vessel.

Please see the Caymanian Compass later in the week for more details on this story.