Tragedy struck a Michigan couple’s Hawaiian vacation when a leisurely snorkeling excursion turned fatal for 64-year-old Ray Johnson, leaving behind grieving family and a perplexing trail of questions. His wife, Patti Johnson, contends that her husband’s untimely demise on a Maui beach in February 2022 could have been averted had there been adequate warnings about a lesser-known snorkeling hazard.
Officially attributed to drowning, a common peril for tourists in Hawaii, Ray’s demise took an unexpected turn, according to attorney Jay Stuemke, who represents Patti in her lawsuit against the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau. Describing Ray as an experienced snorkeler, Stuemke painted a picture that diverges from the conventional drowning narrative.
“He told a friend, ‘I’m having trouble breathing,’ and they tried to bring him in,” Stuemke recounted. “A friend helped him to shore, but he died on the beach [in Maui.]”
Contrary to typical drowning scenarios, Ray likely succumbed to Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE), a condition colloquially termed “drowning from the inside.” This insidious ailment inundates the lungs with fluids, impeding oxygen delivery and precipitating hypoxia—a dire sequence of events detailed in an editorial by pulmonologist Dr. Phillip R. Foti.
Patti, recounting the harrowing ordeal, expressed disbelief at the autopsy report’s simplistic conclusion of drowning. “When you’re drowning, I don’t think you’re making your way in. I don’t think you’re talking to the people you’re with,” she told ABC 7.
Research indicates that various factors, including recent air travel, heighten the risk of ROPE-related fatalities, prompting recommendations for a delay of at least three days before engaging in snorkeling activities post-flight. With tourists typically enduring hours-long flights to reach Hawaii, concerns arise over the physiological impact of high-altitude pressurization on lung function, as highlighted by the state Department of Health’s Snorkel Safety Sub-Committee.
Stuemke emphasized the need for proactive measures, suggesting that disseminating information from safety studies could empower vacationers to make informed decisions. “Ray should’ve been told that he was at particular risk of this for a variety of reasons, including the fact that he’d just flown in,” Stuemke remarked.
However, Patti’s lawsuit alleges a glaring omission on the part of Hawaii’s tourism authorities, citing a lack of proactive warnings despite accessible data outlining snorkeling risks. Stuemke lamented the absence of these crucial advisories in tourism materials, underscoring the need for greater transparency and accountability.
Snorkeling-related fatalities underscore the urgency of addressing underlying risks, with statistics revealing a stark contrast between tourist and local mortality rates. Notably, the precarious snorkeling position, coupled with the design of snorkels, exacerbates susceptibility to ROPE, prompting calls for enhanced safety protocols and equipment standards.
Despite legislative efforts to address snorkeling safety, challenges persist in accurately documenting equipment usage and correlating it with fatalities. Dr. Foti’s research underscores the complexities surrounding snorkel design and their impact on emergency response, underscoring the need for comprehensive data collection and analysis.
In the absence of substantive action from tourism stakeholders, Patti has taken matters into her own hands, distributing informational cards to raise awareness about ROPE. Her grassroots advocacy underscores a poignant reality: amidst tragedy, individuals often become catalysts for change when institutional responses fall short.
Efforts to solicit comments from implicated entities, including the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, yielded no response, highlighting the ongoing battle for accountability in the wake of Ray Johnson’s preventable tragedy.
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