A man lost his life after drowning at a cruise line private island last week, but how did it happen? A 26-year-old individual died last Thursday after going underwater at MSC Cruises Ocean Cay Marine Reserve during a family visit to the lagoon area of the island.
Ocean Cay at sunset (Photo via Doug Parker/Cruise Radio)
According to his sister, who witnessed the drowning, the water was unsafe, and the lifeguard on duty failed to administer CPR, leading to her brother’s death.
MSC’s private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was the second stop on their itinerary. At around 2 p.m., they proceeded to a part of the island where the water seemed calmer and more shallow. Ocean Cay is located in the Bahamas, about 20 miles south of Bimini and 65 miles southeast of Miami.
For context, Ocean Cay has a beachfront around the entire island. Cut through the middle island is a calmer area called the lagoon. This area shelters guests from the waves and currents of the Atlantic Ocean.
Drowning at a Cruise Line Private Island: How Did it Happen?
After treading in thigh-high water, his sister Sherry Ann Charles noticed her six-foot-tall brother bobbing in the water.
Aerial photo of MSC’s Ocean Cay (Photo via Doug Parker/Cruise Radio)
She called out to him but didn’t hear a response. When her boyfriend could not help him, they called for a lifeguard who brought Charles to shore.
In an interview with The Tribune, his sister narrated that her brother was still alive at the time, and although the lifeguard didn’t know how to perform CPR, he did not allow anyone to help. Eventually, a golf cart returned his body to the cruise ship.
Charles’ grief-stricken family expressed dissatisfaction at how the cruise line managed the situation. They were made to continue on their cruise while their family member’s body stayed behind in Ocean Cay.
MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve was opened in early 2020. (Photo via Doug Parker/Cruise Radio)
They also believe that the waters in Ocean Cay are unsafe. Police reports revealed that there have been at least two separate drowning incidents in the area in 2023. “I heard that more persons drowned in the area as well, and I don’t know why it is still a tourist attraction,” his sister said.
They have also started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral and memorial services.
In Memory of Akeem Charles
Akeem Charles was 26 years old. (Photo via family’s GoFundMe page)
The man who drowned was Akeem Charles, a deacon in his local church and an employee who worked for Amazon’s packaging department.
He was traveling with his mother, sister, and his sister’s boyfriend on a Bahamian cruise that left on August 27. Based in Queens, New York, they were accompanied by over 70 fellow church members.
In a statement to The Tribune, MSC Cruises said, “All of us at MSC Cruises are saddened by the death of a passenger travelling aboard MSC Meraviglia during the ship’s call at Ocean Cay on August 31. The safety of our guests is our top priority, and we are working with Bahamian Police and Medical authorities as they complete their investigation.”
Last May, another cruise passenger drowned while on a cruise. The passenger experienced a medical condition while swimming in the South Pacific, leading to their death.
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By: Andrea Santillan
Title: Guest Dies After Drowning at a Cruise Line Private Island
Sourced From: cruiseradio.net/drowning-at-a-cruise-line-private-island-ocean-cay/
Published Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:24:54 +0000
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