Visitor from Zimbabwe dies suddenly ahead of his departure from Antigua; deceased alleged to have had a heart condition

A Zimbabwean man who was set to leave the island on Thursday night, May 25, died suddenly at a local resort.

Reports say the 63-year-old man was staying at Jolly Harbour, having arrived in Antigua and Barbuda on April 19 with relatives.

He, his wife, and other family members were set to depart the island at 9 p.m. However, at about 5 p.m., while they were preparing to leave the resort and were having a conversation with the receptionist, the man reportedly tipped his head backward and became unresponsive.

Reportedly, his son-in-law performed CPR for about 20 minutes, until the Emergency Medical Service arrived and transported him to the hospital’s Emergency Room.

The man, said to have been married for 44 years, reportedly had suffered three heart attacks in that time.

He is alleged to have had high blood pressure and was obese; and, at the time of his death, he reportedly had been suffering from water in the lungs. 

Doctors noted that the man had arrived, unresponsive, at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre at 6 p.m. He was produced dead 25 minutes later. 

Reports say the family handed over a large quantity of medication that had been prescribed for the decreased.  And, according to the medical personnel, the drugs are consistent with the conditions from which the man suffered prior to his death. 

The family reportedly has requested that no post mortem examination be conducted on the Zimbabwean man.  However, it is not known whether this request will be honoured, since any sudden passing is subject to an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

In the meantime, the remains were transported to the Barnes Funeral Home until arrangements can be made for the body to be flown home.