Tourist drowns in cave swim

Friday, February 15, 2008

POLICE are investigating the drowning of a 27-year-old Irish tourist in a cave in the Yasawa Group on Wednesday.
Police identified the visitor as Jason Bernard, who was staying at the Coral View Resort, on Tavewa Island.
Divisional police commissioner Emori Laqai said the tourist drowned while swimming in the Sawa-i-lau cave on Wednesday morning.
Superintendent Laqai said Mr Bernard was swimming with seven other tourists and their tour guide when he drowned.
Mr Bernard's body was taken to the Nacula Health Centre where a doctor pronounced him dead.
The body was then transferred to the Lautoka Hospital to await a post-mortem examination.
Police spokesman Josaia Weicavu identified Mr Bernard as a single Irishman.
Fiji Visitors Bureau chairman Patrick Wong expressed sadness on hearing of the death.
"My sympathy goes out to the family during their time of loss. It's a real tragedy," Mr Wong said.


In December last year, a newly-married New Zealand tourist died after she was run over by an aluminium boat while snorkelling.
Rebecca Stockwell, 27, of Blenheim, was on a honeymoon with her husband at Matamanoa Resort, in the Mamanuca Group.
Corporal Weicavu said police were still waiting for a report from the Marine Department into that accident before charges were considered.
A casual labourer of the resort was identified as having caused the accident but no charges have been laid.
Ms Stockwell's family set up a trust fund in her memory called Forever26.
The family said the fund was established to "increase water safety and general safety awareness" in Fiji "and in part to make accountable those who, through their negligence, have caused such a senseless death to occur."

Saturday, February 16, 2008:
I did the same cave swim. It was amazing and I'm glad we went.