The BDA Sun newspaper in Bermuda is reporting that a 52 year-old cruise passenger died during a diving excursion in Bermuda.
Donna Zapata cruised with her husband on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas to Bermuda. She went on what is described as a "helmet diving" excursion with Hartley’s Bell Diving. The newspaper explains that this involves "shallow water where divers wear airtight helmets to view the underwater world."
After a dive, Ms. Zapata complained of shortness of breath. She reportedly was given oxygen aboard the excursion vessel and the excursion staff called shore-side for emergency medical personnel to be ready ashore. But its reportedly took "about 20 minutes to get everyone back on board and get to shore."
Ms. Zapata lost consciousness and passed away at the King Edward VII Hospital.
The Bermuda Police Service has the following account:
"Police have commenced an investigation into the death of an American woman who was visiting the island as a cruise ship passenger. It appears that around 12 noon on Tuesday, June 7th 52 year old Donna Zapata was in the Mangrove Bay area ‘helmet diving’ with family members when she got into difficulty. EMTs performed CPR as the victim was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance; however they were unable to revive her. She was subsequently pronounced dead at 1pm on Tuesday by an on call physician at the hospital. An autopsy will be performed on the deceased during the course of this week."