Wife Thanks Holidaymakers Who Tried To Save Partner

A devastated widow whose husband died after he was rescued from the sea whilst on holiday in the Dominican Republic, is calling for lessons to be learned following an inquest into his death. 

Roy Fawcett, from Wiltshire, was pulled from the sea after he was found face down in the water whilst on an excursion to an uninhabited remote island called “Paradise Island” off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

The 58-year-old, who had been snorkelling, was dragged onto the beach before being taken by boat to the mainland and onto hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Following the tragedy, Roy’s wife, Sue, 56 of Swindon, instructed expert international personal injury lawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. The excursion was booked through Roy and Sue’s tour company Thomson via a rep at the hotel and the couple were assured that safety measures on the excursion would be at UK standards. In fact when Roy, 58 was found in the water the staff on the excursion seemed ill prepared and did not know what to do.

An inquest today at Staffordshire Coroner’s Court has concluded that Roy died of “accidental drowning on poorly monitored holiday excursion.”

Expert Opinion

"Sue and the rest of the family have faced an incredibly difficult five months trying to come to terms with the loss of Roy in such tragic circumstances.

“Sue and her family are grateful for the coroner’s thorough investigation which has helped them receive some of the much-needed answers they needed regarding Roy’s death.

“It’s of paramount importance that the findings of the inquest are noted and that the lessons are learned to ensure the safety of others on similar trips in future.

“We will now work with Sue to help her get justice regarding her husband’s death.” Lesley Edwards - Senior Associate

Roy and Sue who had a son, Nathan, together and Sue had two children from a previous relationship, daughter Sabrina and son David.

Roy and Sue left the UK on 30 September, 2017. On 12 October the couple were among an organised party who went to Paradise Island.

Sue remained on the beach as Roy went snorkelling with around 10 other holidaymakers.

After other snorkelers returned to the shore Sue noticed someone still in the shallow water. 

Two of the excursion staff, with the help of a holiday maker, dragged Roy from the sea onto the beach. He then had to be dragged further up the beach as waves were coming over his head.

Sue, a support worker, told the inquest that a rescuer found a pulse and a member of excursion staff started performing CPR, but she believed he had not been trained.

Sue said that after the 15 minute boat trip to the mainland, her husband was put on the back seat of a pick-up truck and not an ambulance as she had been assured would be available, to transport him to hospital. She told the court that after about 20 minutes the truck stopped at a doctors. It then took about another 15 minutes for Roy, to arrive at hospital.

He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

After the inquest Sue said: “When the doctor at the hospital told me that Roy had died, I just broke down. I could not believe it and still really cannot believe that he has died.

“I cannot thank enough the other holidaymakers who tried to save Roy’s life but I’m angry that safety measures on what was an organised excursion appeared to be so lax. It seemed to me that the official excursion workers were ill prepared for an emergency and did not seem to know what to do.

“Roy was such an intelligent, caring and funny person who would do anything for his family. Life will never be the same now for our family because of his death. Everyone misses him every day.

“The only hope for our family now is that the appropriate lessons can be learned from the inquest’s findings to ensure no one else has to suffer the heartache and pain of losing a loved one in such circumstances when it could be prevented.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling holiday accident cases.