A 71-year-old man from the United States died on Thursday morning after becoming unconscious while snorkelling in the sea off South Church Street in George Town, police said.

Reports of a person in distress near the Silverside Restaurant & Rum Bar, were received just before 11:00 on July 9.

Members of the public pulled the man, a cruise ship passenger, from the water, and performed chest compressions before EMS emergency responders arrived and provided further medical assistance.

EMS took the man to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The RCIPS said it extended condolences to the man’s family and friends.

A spokesperson for Silverside Restaurant & Rum Bar confirmed that the incident was unrelated to the restaurant’s premises and that the man was not a customer.