A Michigan woman filed a lawsuit against several Hawaii authorities after her 38-year-old husband died while snorkeling.
Patti Johnson is suing the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau after her husband Ray Johnson’s death in February was ruled a “drowning” in the autopsy report. .
She believes that Ray’s death, which occurred in front of her, was in no way like a “traditional” drowning and was actually due to ROPE (rapid-onset pulmonary edema) which may have been exacerbated by his recent escape.
“Hardly a minute goes by in my life without thinking about him,” she said. ABC News.
Dr Meilan Han, head of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan, explained: ‘What long-haul flights do is they have an effect on the lungs.
Patti Johnson is suing the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau after the death of her husband, Ray Johnson, in February, was ruled a “drowning” in the report. the autopsy.
‘Soon they started screaming, call 911! That’s when I ran to the beach. And I ran… I arrived at the beach. They were taking him out. His head went back and I think he was gone at that point,” Patti recalled.
“After three days, you’re back to normal, but if you go snorkeling after that long flight, there’s a substantially higher risk of death.”
In her lawsuit, Patti alleges that the three defendants had failed to educate the public about the potential dangers of ROPE.
‘I don’t want other people to go through what we’ve gone through and lose a family member… lose their husband this way.
“It’s heartbreaking and it’s avoidable, so, you know, please be aware of this.” Raise awareness among people,” he told the outlet.
Patti said that minutes before he died, Ray was snorkeling with friends at Wailea Beach, across from the resort, when he stopped dead and realized something wasn’t right.
After a few seconds, he noticed other divers helping Ray as he tried to keep his head above water and make his way to shore.
‘Soon they started screaming, call 911! That’s when I ran to the beach. And I ran, I reached the beach. They were taking him out. His head went back and I think she was gone at that point,” Patti recalled.
Ray was snorkeling with friends at Wailea Beach (pictured) when the incident occurred.
Patti believes her husband suffered from ROPE – rapid onset pulmonary edema which caused his death.
The coroner later ruled that Ray’s death was due to drowning, but Patti refuses to believe it.
‘I was watching him come in, how could he be drowning? According to his friends who were diving with him, Ray was talking and also going underwater.
“At one point, he came over and said, ‘You have to help me, I’m having trouble breathing,’ and that’s when he decided to come back to shore. I don’t think when people are conditionally drowning, you’re going to have a conversation,” he said. .
Instead, Patti believes her husband suffered ROPE.
The couple was staying at the Fairmont Kea Lani in February. The resort has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
In her lawsuit, Patti alleges that the three defendants had failed to educate the public about the potential dangers of ROPE.
According Yale MedicineROPE is a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Primarily, fluid buildup is caused by a pressure imbalance in the heart, but other causes can also send excess fluid to the lungs.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, shortness of breath, wheezing, and shallow breathing.
Jay Stuemke, the family’s attorney, confirmed that Ray was an experienced diver and believes the couple’s long flight contributed to his death.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau and Fairmont Kea Lani have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
