LAHAD DATU: A 78-year-old German tourist died after losing consciousness while snorkelling off Pulau Sakar near here on Wednesday (June 17).
The victim, identified as Kenneth Ray Crouse, was snorkelling when he became unconscious, triggering a medical evacuation operation coordinated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Lahad Datu Maritime Zone director Maritime Commander Dzulfikhar Ali said the agency received a report from a boat operator at about 11.20am before dispatching patrol boat Cenderawasih 02, which was already at sea, to assist.
"Based on the information received, the patrol boat was directed to the location to bring the victim to the Lahad Datu Fisheries Jetty," he said in a statement.
Crouse's companion administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene before he was transported ashore and rushed to Lahad Datu Hospital.
However, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
It was not immediately clear what caused the tourist to lose consciousness.
