Local (Saipan Tribune)

Grotto nearly claims another life

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

The Grotto nearly took another life on Saturday-just a week after claiming the lives of two Japanese women, according to the Department of Public Safety yesterday.

DPS public information officer Catherine U. Sheu said that the DPS Central Communications Center received the call on Saturday of a possible near drowning incident. Boating Safety officers immediately responded to the call and confirmed the report upon arriving at the Grotto area. The officers quickly asked for assistance from the Fire Rescue and ambulance crew.

Sheu identified the victim as Yumi Kato, a 29-year-old female.

Initial investigation of the incident showed that the victim, along with several others, had gone diving at the Grotto. While underwater, one of the diving instructors saw Kato breathing heavily and he tried to calm her down, said Sheu.

Kato then removed the regulator but the diving instructor immediately placed the regulator back in her mouth, Sheu said. The instructor then abruptly guided the victim back inside the cavern of the Grotto, where they ascended to the surface. Upon reaching the rock, the dive instructor and two other individuals administered CPR and rescue breathing on the victim.

Fire Rescue and ambulance personnel arrived at the scene and took over, transporting the victim to the Commonwealth Health Center. Kato was admitted and treated at the intensive care unit. Sheu did not specify whether Kato is still in the hospital or not.

The Marpi landmark was recently voted as one of world's best diving spots.

Local (Marianas Variety)

Diver almost drowns at Grotto

By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

A 29-YEAR-old woman almost drowned while diving at the Grotto over the weekend, police said.
The victim, Yumi Kato, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Commonwealth Health Center.
The Department of Public Safety’s new spokeswoman, Sgt. Catherine Sheu, said an initial investigation showed that the victim went to the Grotto along with other several people for diving on Saturday.
The victim was spotted by one of the diving instructors breathing heavily. The instructor approached her immediately and tried to calm her down.
According to police, the victim removed the regulator from her mouth but the diving instructor put it back.
The instructor then guided her back inside the cavern of the Grotto and ascended to the surface.
The instructor and two other individuals administered CPR and rescue breathing to the victim.
Fire rescue and ambulance personnel arrived and brought the victim to the hospital.
Sheu said the incident is still under investigation.
A dive instructor and her student drowned a week ago while diving at the Grotto.
Since last year, the Grotto has claimed the lives of three divers.