'They just stood there': Anger at 'lax' excursion safety after father's holiday death
Roy Fawcett died during an all-inclusive TUI trip with his wife to the Dominican Republic.
A beloved grandfather drowned on his dream holiday while taking part in a ‘poorly monitored’ snorkelling excursion, an inquest heard.
Roy Fawcett, who grew up in Rugeley, was enjoying an all-inclusive TUI trip away to the Dominican Republic with his wife Sue when tragedy struck.
An inquest heard the pair booked a snorkelling expedition at Paradise Island, advertised and run by the holiday company. But 58-year-old Roy was found face down in the ocean.
Witnesses said they saw him being dragged to shore by the men leading the excursion, but that it appeared they had no first aid training.
Holidaymaker Jamie Elkaleh said in a written statement to Cannock Coroners Court: “I expected them to put him in the recovery position.
"I was in total shock and disbelief that no-one was helping. They just stood there.
"Roy was making groaning like noises. I was panicking, shouting at staff to call an ambulance. No-one seemed to be reacting as trained first aiders.”
Aimee Allen, a nurse, was also on the trip and ran over to help when Roy was pulled onto the beach.
“I asked if he was breathing or had a pulse but the men did not answer,” she said.
“They still had him in reach of the sea and had to be told continuously by other holidaymakers to move him back as the water was going over his face.”
'Safe and insured'
Roy’s widow Sue said TUI representatives had encouraged them to book any holiday trips with their company, instead of local firms, as it would be ‘safe’ and ‘insured’.
Before Roy, a project manager, went in the water the group was told they could snorkel by themselves in the shallow water but needed a life jacket and a guide if they wanted to go deeper.
But when he was pulled from the sea, she said his face was a 'horrible blue grey colour'.
Speaking after the inquest, Sue, his wife of 27 years, 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 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 staff on the excursion were ill prepared for an emergency and did not seem to know what to do.
"I feel I have lost my husband because of these shortcomings. He was an intelligent, caring and wonderful man. He loved his cup of coffee, legs crossed watching the footy. He was a huge Chelsea supporter.
"I've been through absolute hell and I don't want anyone else to go through that. I still say goodnight to him every night."
Question marks
She added that she had heard TUI were still running the same snorkelling trip, and would be working with solicitors to make sure what happened to her husband never happened again.
Senior Coroner for South Staffordshire Andrew Haigh concluded Roy died from accidental drowning on a poorly monitored holiday excursion.
He said: “There were question marks about the level of supervision. Sadly Roy got into trouble.
"The organisers did not really know what to do and the holidaymakers did their best to assist.
"I know communications are in with TUI. I hope suitable action will be taken."
A TUI UK spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Fawcett following this tragic incident.
"We note the coroner’s comments and we will be further reviewing the matter with the third party excursion provider.”
