Arkansas man witnessed Carnival cruise passenger drowning at Bahamas resort

John Kopta was feet away from a man who drowned while snorkeling at a new Carnival private resort.

TONTITOWN, Ark. — Two U.S. cruise passengers drowned in separate incidents at Carnival Cruise Line’s new private resort in the Bahamas, authorities confirmed. Now, an Arkansas man is sharing that he witnessed one of the incidents.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said the drownings happened Friday at Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island. 

Police said in a release that officers first responded to a 79-year-old man who became unresponsive while snorkeling before noon. Hours later, around 2:30 p.m., a 74-year-old woman was pulled from a pool. Both were later pronounced dead, and neither have been identified.

“Our lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate emergency incidents at Celebration Key on Friday — one in the lagoon and one at the beach. Sadly, both guests have passed away,” Carnival told CBS News. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families, and our Care Team is providing assistance.”

John Kopta of Tontitown, Arkansas, was visiting the resort with his wife at the time of the incidents. He explained that he noticed another snorkeler acting strangely before realizing something was wrong.

“I look, I can see him, and I said, ‘oh my God.’ My wife and I hopped off and I ran over there about the same time he got there, and we went down. He grabbed him by the arms, brought him up. I grabbed his legs, brought him up, and he was lifeless at that point.”

Kopta said lifeguards quickly rushed in to help.

“At one point, there were 10 lifeguards surrounding, you know, making a perimeter, and all the ones were working on him, and the EMTs came with the sirens on the ATVs on the sand, and I thought they did everything they could.”

Despite their efforts, Kopta said he believed the man was already gone.

“At that point, your adrenaline, and at that point, I just started praying, ‘Lord, you know, touch this man, if you can. You know, I know you can, but just touch this man,’ and I think he was already gone at that point.”

Police said autopsies will be conducted to determine the official causes of death.

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