This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/16/two-french-tourists-believed-to-have-died-from-heart-attacks-on-great-barrier-reef

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Two French tourists die from heart attacks on Great Barrier Reef Two French tourists die from heart attacks on Great Barrier Reef
(about 1 hour later)
Two French tourists have died after suffering heart attacks while on a snorkelling trip north of Cairns. Two French tourists have died after suffering suspected heart attacks while on a snorkelling trip north of Cairns.
Dive company Passions of Paradise said that the man and woman were among a group of 21 elderly French tourists on a tour at Michaelmas Cay on Wednesday.Dive company Passions of Paradise said that the man and woman were among a group of 21 elderly French tourists on a tour at Michaelmas Cay on Wednesday.
Two snorkel guides were with the group, while there was also one lookout on the beach, and one on the boat.Two snorkel guides were with the group, while there was also one lookout on the beach, and one on the boat.
The beach lookout spotted the man floating in the water and pulled him onto the sand, while the lookout on the boat pulled the woman onto the catamaran, the company said. The beach lookout spotted the 76-year-old man floating in the water and pulled him onto the sand, while the lookout on the boat pulled the woman, who was 74, onto the catamaran, the company said.
Col McKenzie, executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, said the pair suffered sudden medical issues.
“I just don’t know what it was; however, from what I was told, it would lead you to believe that they probably had heart attacks,” he told Associated Australian Press.
“I do know that the woman was on some pretty severe medications as well.”
Crew members tried to revive the pair, but they both died at the scene.Crew members tried to revive the pair, but they both died at the scene.
“They had pre-existing medical conditions and were accompanied by a guide when they were in the water,” said Scotty Garden, Passions of Paradise chief executive, in a statement.“They had pre-existing medical conditions and were accompanied by a guide when they were in the water,” said Scotty Garden, Passions of Paradise chief executive, in a statement.
A third French tourist also got into difficulties but survived.A third French tourist also got into difficulties but survived.
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators executive director Col McKenzie described it as a “perfect storm”. McKenzie described it as a “perfect storm”.
“Crew on the Passions boat worked to save them all, including CPR and using oxygen, but tragically two are dead,” he told the Cairns Post.“Crew on the Passions boat worked to save them all, including CPR and using oxygen, but tragically two are dead,” he told the Cairns Post.
“There was a doctor onboard the nearby Ocean Spirit who declared them dead.”“There was a doctor onboard the nearby Ocean Spirit who declared them dead.”
The company had taken more than 400,000 tourists to the reef since it began operating in 1989, McKenzie said. One other fatality had occurred during a tour in 1997, when an 80-year-old died from a heart problem.