Mr Greg K. Nisbett said while he regrets the elderly man subsequently died, he is happy he didnt hesitate to render assistance to the best of his knowledge. Photo: VINO

“The woman came out and was shouting call the police, call the ambulance,” said Greg K. Nisbett as he recalled the ordeal of yesterday afternoon, which warranted him aborting his regular duties and taking on that of a CPR rescue operation.

Mr Nisbett said 67-year-old Mr James Campise, a US citizen, developed complications while out at sea with his family and had fallen unconscious. “He was kind of lifeless when they brought him here and I realised that my help was needed and I just decided to put what I had learned all these years into practice,” Mr Nisbett told Virgin Islands News Online.

According to the still emotional man, the experience was one that was mixed with fear and bravery. “I realized that this was not the dummy we practice on, it’s a human being, it’s a real person and it was a matter of life and death of a real person. I had no time to think nothing but to try to save a life.” He said he performed CPR on Mr Campise until the ambulance arrived.

“His pulse was weak and so I kept doing CPR. It wasn’t easy but I stood strong, didn’t get overridden by emotions. I told persons that were flocking around to clear the space and I did what I had to do.” He said he was surprised when the ambulance attendant told him to get into the ambulance and to continue to assist. “That was when it hit home that I was really doing the right thing. Because at some stages I was like, am I doing the right thing here but I had to put the doubts aside and do something.”

Nisbett said he was extremely saddened later the afternoon when he received a call that the tourist had died. “I went back to the hospital and I saw the family and they were just saying thanks but I was so sad that he didn’t make it. But it was a great experience and lesson for me. Never let fear get the upper hand of you, never,” he encouraged.

According to a reliable hospital source, the 67-year-old American man went diving with his family when he indicated that he was not feeling well and collapsed shortly after. According to the medical personal, it is very likely that the elderly man suffered a heart attack.

It was also stated that the man still had a pulse on arrival at Peebles Hospital but was pronounced dead later in the afternoon despite valiant efforts to revive him.

Mr Nisbett said the experience has since changed his life and that persons have been seeking him out to either congratulate him or enquire about the experience. "I want to go back to living my normal way as it was not a game of win or lose but it was a rush to try to save a human being, someone with flesh and blood and I was there and just couldn't stand by and do nothing," he related to Virgin Islands News Online.