Mystery as two tourists die from heart attacks at the same time and place while snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef
Victims, aged 76 and 74, died while on trip with 21 other elderly French people at Michaelmas Cay, north of Cairns, Queensland
TWO French tourists have mysteriously died of heart attacks moments apart while snorkelling on Australia's Great Barrier Reef today, officials said.
The 76-year-old man and 74-year-old woman died while diving with a group of 21 other elderly French people at Michaelmas Cay, north of Cairns in the Australian state of Queensland.
Executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators Col McKenzie said: “It just appears to be the perfect storm: two events occurring at the same time.
“We're dumbfounded. In 35 years, I've never seen a similar event.”
Calm weather and sea conditions at the time of the tragedy only confounded the mystery, McKenzie added.
The group had been diving from a catamaran operated by Cairns-based Passions of Paradise when the deaths occurred late morning, he said.
According to the company's chief executive, Scotty Garden, both victims had declared "pre-existing medical conditions" in paper work before they went into the water.
Two guides entered the placid sea with the group, while lookouts were posted on the catamaran and the sand.
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The lookout on the beach first noticed the man floating motionless and pulled him to the sand, where the staff member performed CPR in a desperate effort to resuscitate him, Garden said.
Moments later, the other lookout on the catamaran saw the women floating face down.
She was taken to the boat, where staff then turned their attention to trying to resuscitate her, Garden said.
Staff used bottled oxygen and defibrillation equipment as they battled to save her – but to no avail.
A doctor from another tourist boat was able to help the staff in their efforts, but was forced to declare both snorkelers dead, McKenzie said.
A third French diver was later initially suspected to have also had a heart attack.
But the man was later thought to have had an anxiety attack and recovered, McKenzie said.
He explained: “He watched two of his travel companions in massive trouble. It would give anybody heart palpitations.”
McKenzie claimed Passions of Paradise has taken more than 400,000 tourists to the reef since 1989, with the company's only previous fatality being an 80-year-old who died from a heart condition in 1997.
Police are preparing a report for a state coroner, who will determine the official causes of the deaths.
Two months ago, news came to light of another 76-year-old tourist who died while snorkelling – this time in Malta.
Brit Allan Stanley was on holiday when he was killed instantly by the propeller of a passing boat.
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