A Michigan woman has filed a lawsuit against multiple authorities in Hawaii after her husband of 38 years died while snorkeling.
Patti Johnson is suing the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau after her husband Ray Johnson’s death in February was ruled a “drowning” in an autopsy report.
She believes that Ray’s death, which occurred before her eyes, was in no way similar to a ‘traditional’ drowning and was in fact due to ROPE (Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema) which may have been exacerbated by their recent flight.
“There’s hardly a minute in my life that goes by that I don’t think about him,” she said ABC news.
Dr. Meilan Han, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan, explained: ‘What long-haul flights do is it has an effect on your lungs.
Patti Johnson is suing the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau after her husband Ray Johnson’s death in February was ruled a ‘drowning’ in an autopsy report
“Soon they started yelling, call 911! Then I ran to the beach. And I ran – I got to the beach. They were pulling him out. His head snapped back and I think at that moment he was gone,” Patti recalled.
‘After three days you are back to normal, but if you go snorkeling after that long flight, the risk of death is considerably higher.’
In her lawsuit, Patti alleges that all three defendants failed to educate the public about the potential dangers of ROPE.
“I don’t want other people to go through what we went through and lose a family member like this by losing your husband.
“It’s just heartbreaking and avoidable, and so, you know, just to be aware of this. Make people aware,” she told the outlet.
Patti said minutes before he died, Ray was snorkeling with friends around Wailea Beach, across from the resort, when she stopped and realized something was wrong.
After a few seconds, she noticed other snorkelers helping Ray as he tried to keep his head above water and get to shore.
“Soon they started yelling, call 911! Then I ran to the beach. And I ran – I got to the beach. They were pulling him out. His head snapped back, and I think at that moment he was gone,” Patti recalled.
Ray was snorkeling with friends around Wailea Beach (pictured) when the incident happened
Patti believes her husband suffered from ROPE – rapid onset pulmonary edema, which caused his death
The coroner later ruled Ray’s death a drowning, but Patti refuses to believe that.
“I saw him come in, how could he be drowning? According to her friends who were snorkeling with him, Ray was talking and also diving underwater.
‘At one point he came forward and said, ‘You have to help me, I’m having trouble breathing,’ and then he decided to go back to shore. “I don’t think if people are drowning in a conditional way, you’re going to have a conversation,” she said.
Instead, Patti believes her husband suffered from ROPE.
The couple stayed at Fairmont Kea Lani in February. The resort has not yet responded to the lawsuit
In her lawsuit, Patti alleges that all three defendants failed to educate the public about the potential dangers of ROPE.
According to Yale MedicineROPE is a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Most often, the buildup of fluid is caused by disturbed pressure in the heart, but other causes can also send excess fluid to the lungs.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and shallow breathing.
Jay Stuemke, the family’s attorney, confirmed that Ray was an experienced snorkeler and believes the couple’s long flight contributed to his death.
The Hawaiian Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Fairmont Kea Lani have not yet commented on the lawsuit.