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Carla
got to Robert’s kayak in about five seconds (according to Leslie’s estimate) and was able to get Robert partially upright after he had been underwater for 10-15 seconds (according to estimates later provided by her and the students). Mary got out of her boat, released Robert’s spray skirt and got him out of his boat. She then held Robert’s head out of the water while holding onto his boat. Carla attached her towline to Robert’s boat and both she and George blew their emergency whistles in an effort to attract the attention of passing boat traffic. At this point, both Robert and Mary were still in the water with Mary holding Robert’s head out of the water while still holding onto Robert’s
boat. During the first five minutes after being brought to the surface, Robert was conscious but had difficulty breathing. Mary said he was able to talk a little bit. In another three to four minutes, he lost consciousness. Mary, a professional nurse, began rescue breathing, while Carla towed them (both still in the water) to shore. One powerboat passed them without stopping. Leslie started paddling toward a marina about 0.4 miles distant, where she saw a sailboat maneuvering near the docks. She repeatedly yelled out the boat’s name and waved her paddle in the air. In the course of this effort, she capsized. This time she was able to remember the proper technique for a wet exit and immediately bailed out. Momentarily, two men in a powerboat arrived and offered her their assistance. She told them she would be fine and directed them to Carla, Mary and Robert. The boat’s owner, Thomas Guard, took Robert and Mary aboard. Mary and passenger Gregory Haley immediately began CPR on Robert. At the marina, police officer Macy Joseph (also an EMT) assisted Mary with the CPR effort. Off-duty police officer Bouvier arrived and provided them with 100% oxygen and a defibrillator. They were not successful in reviving Robert. CPR was continued during transport to the emergency room at a hospital about seven miles away. In the course of his capsize, Robert had inhaled water to a degree that compromised further lung function even after Carla and Mary got him up and out of his boat. He was declared dead at 2:51 that afternoon. An autopsy, carried out the next day, determined that he died from asphyxia due to drowning and that the manner of death was accidental.
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