californiagirl
TUG Member
Monday morning I had just come in from snorkeling in front of Waiohai. There was a wicked current so I had to exert more energy than normal to swim, even with fins on. My husband and I were sitting on the beach as I was drying off when a man in the water started shouting. At first no one could understand what he was saying. The entire beach went silent and we could then understand he was shouting “lifeguard”! It looked like he and another person were supporting a third person. The lifeguard immediately swam out to them. It seemed like it took forever to get to shore. I’m sure in actuality it was only a few minutes. Since I am an RN, I ran to the shore to meet them as they dragged a man out of the water. He was in full arrest. There were about 5 of us who ran to help. Nurses, a paramedic and an ER doctor. I stepped back as we were not all needed. As I am almost 60 I let the younger/stronger healthcare providers do the compressions, they would be more effective. For anyone who has not done CPR, it is very tiring and when you tire your compressions are not as effective. That is why rescuers switch off every few minutes. I sat with his wife/significant other...she used both terms as we sat there. It doesn’t matter because it was clear she loved him. She kept saying “but he doesn’t have any health problems. He exercises and is healthy”. Someone got an AED and they applied the pads. Unfortunately he did not have a shockable rhythm so they continued compressions. Several sets of paramedics and emergency personnel arrived and began working on him. They worked so hard for about 45 minutes when at that time they transported him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
He was 64 years old and from Minnesota. This was their last day before going back home. Besides his wife he was there with 2 brothers and a sister-in-law. One brother had been snorkeling with him and had gone back to shore. The man who died wanted just a little longer in the water, his brother said.
As I have been reflecting and replaying the experience in my mind a couple of things have stood out. My faith in humanity is strengthened. SO many people offered help and support to the man and to the family. We were all strangers. All activity and sound on the beach stopped as everyone watched. I didn’t get the feeling people were gawking in a voyeuristic way, but rather as a collective group hoping, wishing and praying that he would respond to the resuscitation efforts. The response from Waiohai was impressive and reassuring. it was very sobering. As I looked around the group on the beach and at the resort, the majority of us were within a few years of the man receiving help. I’m sure we all at some point had the thought, there but for the grace of God go I.
He was 64 years old and from Minnesota. This was their last day before going back home. Besides his wife he was there with 2 brothers and a sister-in-law. One brother had been snorkeling with him and had gone back to shore. The man who died wanted just a little longer in the water, his brother said.
As I have been reflecting and replaying the experience in my mind a couple of things have stood out. My faith in humanity is strengthened. SO many people offered help and support to the man and to the family. We were all strangers. All activity and sound on the beach stopped as everyone watched. I didn’t get the feeling people were gawking in a voyeuristic way, but rather as a collective group hoping, wishing and praying that he would respond to the resuscitation efforts. The response from Waiohai was impressive and reassuring. it was very sobering. As I looked around the group on the beach and at the resort, the majority of us were within a few years of the man receiving help. I’m sure we all at some point had the thought, there but for the grace of God go I.