The Cayman community is mourning the loss of National Conservation Council chairman and Older Persons Council member McFarlane Conolly.
The Cayman Compass confirmed that Conolly, 70, of East End, died in a water-related incident shortly after 3:10pm on Monday, 17 July.
Police released a statement on Tuesday on the incident, but they did not formally name Conolly.
Officers responded to a report of a person in distress on the shore off Austin Conolly Drive in East End, where it was reported that a man had been in the water snorkelling when he experienced difficulties.
He was assisted back to shore by family and members of the public, who administered CPR until the arrival of emergency services.
He was transported to hospital by ambulance, and subsequently pronounced dead.
Conolly had been a longstanding member of the NCC, and was first appointed chairman in 2018.
He was again named NCC chair in February 2021 following controversy over government’s failure to appoint members to the National Conservation Board.
Cabinet later named and gazetted the new board.
Connolly was also a former member of the Prisons Inspection Board and previously worked in the banking industry.
In 2019, he was named an Older Persons Month ambassador.
John Bothwell, secretary to the NCC for the Department of Environment, praised Conolly’s contribution as chair of the council.
“He will be missed by his community and all who knew him,” he said, in a brief emailed comment, adding that it is expected that death and funeral announcements will be forthcoming when the family is ready.
“We at DoE are saddened and shocked by the loss and our thoughts are with his family at this time,” Bothwell added.
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Another shocking loss to our community and emerging nation. RIP our friend McFarlane.