By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
AN American tourist drowned while participating in a free dive competition in Long Island yesterday afternoon.
According to reports the visitor was diving in waters about 235ft deep for about 3 1/2 minutes before coming to the surface.
It was reported that at about half an hour after he resurfaced he had a seizure and was unresponsive. He was seen by a local doctor but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have not identified the man, but The Tribune understands he is 33-year-old Nicholas Melvoli of Brooklyn, New York.
He was staying at the Habour View Hotel in Clarence Town while diving in a tournament on the island.
According to a statement written by the American Association for breath hold diving (AIDA), Mr Melvoli was participating in the 2013 Vertical Blue Dive Competition.
“Nick,” said the AIDA statement, “had performed a constant weight no fins dive to 72m, reached depth, and swam back to the surface successfully. Nick attempted to complete the surface protocol, but was unsuccessful and had difficulty breathing. He lost consciousness, and in spite of great efforts by the doctor and paramedic on site, failed to recover after reaching the local hospital. Nick appears to have suffered from a depth-related injury to his lungs,” the statement said.
“Nick lived in Brooklyn, New York, and worked in the television industry. He was a passionate waterman, spearfisherman and freediver, and vocal advocate for the sport in the United States. Nick was an extraordinary talent, breaking the US constant weight record shortly after beginning competitive freedive in 2012. This year, Nick took second place in the inaugural Caribbean Cup in Roatan, first place at the Deja Blue competition in Curaçao, and a silver medal in constant no fins at this year’s AIDA Depth World Championship in Greece.
“Nick’s friends will miss his warm smile and sense of humour, and eagerness to spearfish and dive at any time,” said the AIDA statement.
Investigations continue.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Please Tribune, please stop identifying victims before their names are officially released. Please consider the family members, there's no need to be the first in these circumstances.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
Actually they aren't the first, there are numerous articles in US papers with a ton more details than the Tribune or the Guardian...
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
I don't know that that absolves them, I hold my point, they do it consistently with local victims. It's like this is the new journalism standard.
Guy 10 years, 5 months ago
I couldn't disagree more. News reporting should be timely, but accurate. Why should the US media receive less scrutiny than our own? This was heavily reported outside of the Bahamas. Meanwhile....we are still waiting for the "official" identification of the victim by Bahamian authorities.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Oh, so when (God forbid) your family member succumbs, you'd be willing to hear about it on the 12oclock news (maybe while in a drive through line) so that the rest of us can get timely reporting? I can't think of any circumstance that can't wait notification of the family members. If US dailies want to do otherwise, let's not race them to the bottom.
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
Heartfelt condolences to family and friends of Nicholas Melvoli. Our hearts and prayers are with them in this time of bereavement.
Pampa 10 years, 5 months ago
Wow. The water is so unpredictable. Sad that he died dong what he loved.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID