A Canadian tourist has died following a night diving incident near Parke di Lucha in the Rif area of Otrobanda, Curaçao.
Police received a report at around 7.38 pm on Monday, 26 May, that members of the public were attempting to resuscitate a diver near the popular waterfront area of Rif Fort and the cruise terminal in Willemstad.
A man diving with the victim told police the pair had been some distance from shore when the tourist lost consciousness during a guided night dive.
He was able to bring his buddy back to shore, where bystanders and fellow divers began CPR before emergency medical teams arrived.
Ambulance personnel continued resuscitation efforts before transporting the diver to Curaçao Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Police and forensic investigators have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and have seized the diver’s scuba equipment and tank as part of the inquiry.
The Rif waterfront area of Otrobanda is a popular recreational diving location, particularly for shore and night dives on reefs close to Willemstad.
The victim’s identity has not yet been publicly released, and in light of recent media speculation following the Maldives cave tragedy, a spokesperson on the island has asked the public not to engage in theories behind the cause of the fatality.
‘Out of respect for the family, please keep opinions and speculation to yourselves until the facts are clear,’ they said in an email to DIVE.
‘Please do not engage with unfounded conjecture. Wait to understand where, what, and how this tragedy occurred before drawing conclusions. Respect, patience, and compassion matter most right now. Thank you./
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