U.S. Tourist Killed in Watercraft Collision in Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach
Photo by Mangrove Mike via flickr 

The Associated Press, April 17, 2015

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — A cruise ship passenger from Virginia died when the personal watercraft he was operating collided with another one driven by a teenage tourist, authorities said Thursday. 

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service identified the man as Robert Cole, 31, of Virgilina, Virginia.

Cole and his female passenger were thrown from their rented machine when it collided with a personal watercraft operated by a 15-year-old from New York, police said. They said the Virginia couple were passengers on the Carnival Conquest cruise ship.

Carnival Cruise Line spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said the couple had rented the water craft independently and were not participating in a shore excursion sold through the company.

The collision occurred Wednesday afternoon off Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach, the British territory's main tourism strip.

The boy suffered a minor injury to his nose. The name of the Virginia woman, who was treated and released at a hospital, was not reported by authorities, but the Virginia Gazette newspaper identified her as Amy Comer.

Police said the two survivors remain in the Cayman Islands and are assisting investigators.

 

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