Relatives to late snorkelers in Hawaii believe snorkel masks may be to blame for a slew of recent deaths.
An investigation has been launched into the safety of the snorkel masks after at least nine people died within two weeks, according to KTVU.
The girlfriend to an experience swimmer said she is contemplating a lawsuit against the maker of the masks after her former lifeguard boyfriend died suddenly from a ‘drowning’ incident.
‘I’m still confused as to how this happened. The cause of death is drowning,’ girlfriend to the late Bryan Beyer, Heidi Williams, said in a comment on The Maui News.
An investigation has been launched into the safety of the snorkel masks after at least nine people died within two weeks, according to KTVU
Relatives to late snorkelers in Hawaii believe scuba masks may be to blame for a slew of recent deaths
The scuba masks can create carbon monoxide buildup, which could cause people to lose consciousness, according to KTVU, who spoke with a merchandiser of the masks
The experienced swimmer died in January while wearing the mask.
Nancy Peacock, another drowning victim from 2016, also died from what her husband believes could be related to the equipment.
Her husband Guy Cooper said he’ll ‘never know what really happened’ but but if he ‘can somehow prevent it from happening to someone else’ that is what he will do, according to the San Francisco Gate.
His wife had reportedly been snorkeling prior to her mysterious death while she was wearing the equipment.
Experienced swimmer Bryan Beyer died in January while wearing the mask in Hawaii
Nancy Peacock, another drowning victim from 2016, also died from what her husband believes could be related to the equipment
The scuba masks can create carbon monoxide buildup, which could cause people to lose consciousness, according to KTVU, who spoke with a merchandiser of the masks.
Mark Stanley, owner of the Bamboo Dive Centers told the news station beginners are more likely to have trouble with breathing.
‘If you dive down, take a big breath, and then go down, the ball comes up and prevents any water from going inside the mask,’ Stanley said.
Snorkeling is the number one cause of death for non-residents in Hawaii
Beginners are more likely to ‘panic’ or ‘hyperventilate’, he suggested.
According to the Hawaii Department of Health, snorkeling is the number one cause of death for non-residents in Hawaii.
Bridget Velasco, of the Hawaii Department of Health told SF Gate ‘there is interest in looking at the mechanics of respiration across various types of snorkels/masks.’
She said the investigation is still in the beginning stages.