Reported Drowning Death at Castaway Cay

On Thursday, the Disney Wonder was spending the second day of a 4-night Bahamian cruise at Castaway Cay. A report from Tribune 242, a news outlet in Nassau, is reporting that police are investigating a drowning death at Castaway Cay of a 38 year old man from New York.

The report along with other information we have been receiving indicates the man was swimming in the Serenity Bay area. Serenity Bay is the adults only beach on the island. The Wonder had a delayed departure as a result of the on island investigation by local authorities. An autopsy will be performed to determinate exact cause of death.

The Wonder arrived this morning in Nassau and is scheduled to visit Key West on Saturday before returning to Miami on Sunday morning.

Additional source: Inquisitor.com

37 Replies to “Reported Drowning Death at Castaway Cay”

  1. Marnix

    According to reports in that thread on the DIS there were two accidents. The one on Thursday as mentioned in the article above and the next day (Friday) with a passenger from the Fantasy. Very sad.

    Reply
  2. Kimberly

    Hey, I was on that boat and I can assure you there was no delay in departing. We left around 5pm. I did not hear a single word aboard the ship about the incident. Not saying it didn’t happen just saying we weren’t delayed and there was no buzz on ship about this which I would have expected.

    Reply
    1. Dave

      Kimberly, what ship were you on because you obviously were not on the Wonder. Saw you post on another blog incorrectly as well. The Wonder left CC about 3-4 hours late on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Scheduled departure was at 4:45-5pm. We left between 8-8:30pm. The captain made several announcements over the PA regarding the delay being caused by a “medical emergency” on shore. Very sad.

      Reply
    2. Eric

      We were on the ship as well and saw the Coast Guard helicopter escort the victim and the family off the island. I heard that the father had drowned.

      Reply
  3. Welovedisney

    I was on the Fantasy and witnessed it. We do not know the outcome, but it was a very serious and tragic situation. A man was snorkeling and apparently his snorkel vest got caught on something. We saw them pull him from the water and watched the crew react immediately to try to revive him. He had a wife and young daughter (supposedly 5 year old) with him on board. This was around 11:45. At around 4:45, we heard a very loud noise and saw a Coast Guard helicopter come to pick up the wife, child and man on a gurney. We can’t find any additional information about it yet, but our thoughts are with the man and his family. We were told it was not good, but are hoping for the best. Unless guests were at the snorkel beach/family beach junction between 11:30-12:00, happened to walk in when they were transporting him to the boat, or on the side of the ship where the helicopter landed, they wouldn’t know. It was kept very quiet. It was a very sad scene in the snorkeling area.

    Reply
  4. DLW

    I witnessed the man snorkeling and saw him get pulled in from the water. He was face down. I watched right next to the lifeguards as they performed CPR. I also saw them take him and his family away in the Coast Guard helicopter as our balcony was facing the pier. It was a horrible scene. The incident happened at family beach in Castaway Cay around 11:45am on Friday Feb 27, 2015. We were all from the Disney Fantasy and we did leave as soon as the helicopter flew away around 5:00pm.

    Reply
    1. JG

      We were in the fantasy as well. We saw them doing CPR on the man on the man on Friday late AM. We also had a port side room and watched him and his family (around 4:45) get loaded onto the coast guard helicopter. The ship only said “an ill passenger” was being taken by the USCG. So disturbing. I’d really like to know if the man made it. Our thoughts go out the family. I have pics to prove it.

      Reply
        1. JG

          Oh my God, that is awful. How do you know? Can you provide us with the source? So this means that Disney had two separate fatal drownings on consecutive days Castaway Cay?

          Reply
          1. Beerman

            No, not until you see autopsy. Like the kids who died on mission space or mars they both had heart defects.

            Reply
        2. CruiseNovice61

          It is difficult to follow whether folks are talking about the Guest from the Wonder or from the Fantasy. Are you stating that the young father from the Fantasy did not survive? If so, are you certain? I have been hoping against hope that he and his family would have a happy outcome. We had a couple of very brief interactions on the cruise with the family and I was so saddened to see him on the stretcher just outside my stateroom window.

          Reply
          1. Concerned friend

            Yes, the young father didn’t make it. We’re devistated by the news of this horrible tragedy. He was a good man, always positive, and hard working. He’ll be missed.

            Reply
            1. stephanie

              I am talking about the other man who was on the wonder . He was Asian traveling with his wife on his Honeymoon. He was apparently swimming and drowned. He was a close friend of ours and just trying to find out what happen because his parents don’t speak English. We are trying to find out what happened

              Reply
  5. JHead

    I was on the Wonder, we left a few hours late from Castaway Cay. So sad, we seen them performing CPR and knew it didn’t look good. Prayers for his family!!

    Reply
  6. Concerned friend

    Thank you for posting his info. I’m sure his friends and family have been wondering what happened. Anyone else with info please posts.

    Reply
  7. odalyv

    I was on the Wonder and had been at Serenity Bay earlier, but left before all of this happened. We definitely left late with several announcements assuring passengers we would still make Nassau the next day. No one said what happened and I didn’t know anything about it until now.

    Reply
  8. David

    I witnessed a Cushman-(type) vehicle race up to the Fantasy as I was disembarking at Castaway Cay. There was a lifeguard performing CPR. At first, I thought it was a training exercise until a golf cart raced by with the wife crying. My heart sank and I began to pray. Definitely not something you want to witness. Especially on such a joyous occasion. I’m glad my young children had already disembarked earlier with family so to not witness this tragic incident. A few hours later a Coast Guard Helicopter landed just below our Stateroom beside us on the pier. We watched the wife and child escorted aboard the helicopter followed shortly by the husband carried on a gurney. He was attended by several medical personnel and had an IV bag and wearing an oxygen mask. I don’t know the final outcome but am hopeful my prayer was answered for all who were affected by this unfortunate accident.

    Reply
  9. Mr. Davis

    I was aboard the wonder and i just wanna kno why the lady (she looked Asian) that was there with him did not get off the boat if that was his wife.

    Reply
    1. stephanie

      Is there anything you can tell us about this tragic incident. He was our Employee on his Honeymoon. He was like family to us and we are devastated by this. Any information would help.

      Reply
      1. Marnix

        At 6.24am he was a close friend of yours and at 4.13pm he was your employee. Yeah right.
        His employer must have been informed by the family. No need to learn this from a blog.
        These messages are popping up on the DIS too.

        Please people keep private things private.

        Reply
        1. stephanie

          First of all we were informed by his family, but we were trying to find out more details for his family. If you were able to read you would have seen that I put he was our employee and also like family. He was a close friend and other employees posted as well. Keeping things private for what reason we wanted to know how this tragedy happened to someone we cared about. Maybe you should keep your thoughts private and don’t reply if you have issues. You really need to check your attitude!!!!!!IUnlike you there are many caring people who are very helpful on this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          Reply
          1. Marnix

            Not buying your story. Asking private details on this very public blog is a problem with your attitude. If you are close with this family you will have more details on this tragedy then anyone on this or any blog. Respecting their privacy should be top priority for you.

            Reply
  10. anthony

    Can anyone else who was on the Wonder tell us what happened . This is tragic and he worked for us . Please any information would help

    Reply
          1. stephanie

            Again like I stated in an earlier text his family speaks a different language so therefore we get bits and pieces of what happened. Who are you to tell anybody what they can and cant post. You clearly have no compassion for anyone! I really don’t care if you buy my story. You are of no importance to me! I post what I want if you or anyone else chooses not to answer then don’t. I have the upmost respect for his family so don’t tell me what you don’t know My top priority is mourning the loss of a beautiful person and getting some PRIVATE information from people who cared enough

            Reply
  11. Dan

    Speaking as someone who knows this individual and who their employer is, allow me to say Stephanie is full of it. You are hack journalist or hack lawyer trolling blogs looking for info. This person lost their life. Honestly. You should be ashamed of yourself. Please nobody respond to “Stephanie”, who is also posting identical comments under different names on other blogs. Everyone who should be informed of these details has already been.

    Reply
  12. Stephanie

    Ok “Dan” or whatever ur real name is you obviously have no life if u r following all the blogs that I wrote on. It’s not just me wanting to know its all of his coworkers. That’s because we all cared about him. So think what u want and continue to be the big bully u are. Your the one that should be ashamed!!!!!!

    Reply
    1. Dan

      “Coworkers” would know that the individual was not on their Honeymoon. Nice try “Stephanie”. Go chase a different ambulance. You’re sick. Show some respect.

      Reply
  13. Mary

    Hi- I was on the Fantasy and witnessed the father with the wife and child getting CPR and airlifted. It crosses my mind daily as to the outcome. I pray that they were able to fly him to Miami and get him the help needed to survive and make a recovery. If anyone had any information to share that would be wonderful.

    Reply

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