Health complications led to death of tourist

Contrary to what was suggested by other media, drowning was not the cause of death of a cruise passenger who died while swimming at Dickenson Bay two weeks ago.
An autopsy conducted this week showed that 74-year-old Stephen Downing died due to numerous health conditions, including bilateral aspiration pneumonitis, hypertension and diabetes, among other things.
The death certificate was issued to the family following the post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr. Petra Miller Nanton.
Downing and his wife came to Antigua aboard a cruise ship on February 24 and were swimming at Dickenson Bay around 2 p.m. the following day when she realised he was motionless in the water.
The woman reportedly summoned lifeguards who pulled the man ashore and tried in vain to resuscitate him.
He was rushed to the hospital where more attempts were made to
revive him but was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Last week, the president of the Cruise Tourism Association, Nathan Dundas, said arrangements were being made to have the body returned to the U.K. where Downing resided.