Tourist dies of heart attack at Saipan’s Grotto

01/09/25 - A tourist from Hong Kong tragically died of a heart attack on Monday, January 6, at the Grotto, a popular diving spot in Saipan.

According to the CNMI Department of Public Safety, emergency responders initially received a call reporting a drowning incident at the Grotto in the Marpi area. However, upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered that an individual suffered a heart attack after swimming. 

"Responding officers who arrived at the scene discovered tour guides who were administering Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to a male person. The person was later transported to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation by the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, where he was pronounced dead at 4:31 PM," the CNMI DPS explained in a press release.

Authorities revealed that the victim, accompanied by his family and tour guides, arrived at the Grotto around 2:00 PM on Monday. After spending approximately five minutes in the water, the tourist reported feeling unwell to the tour guides.

"He was assisted out of the water and onto the rocks where he sat down, later losing consciousness. The two tour guides began CPR until the arrival of emergency personnel," the CNMI DPS stated.

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Story by Thomas Manglona II