Tragedy struck the Royal Caribbean Decameron Club in St Ann’s, Jamaica, when a 53-year-old British man died in a bizarre cocktail drinking challenge while vacationing with his family.
The man, identified as Timothy Southern, 53, from Staffordshire, UK, attempted to drink all 21 cocktails on a bar’s menu. Southern managed to consume 12 different cocktails before going back to his hotel room, where he later died.
An autopsy performed in Kingston cited “acute gastroenteritis due to alcohol consumption” as the cause of death, supporting Coroner Emma Serrano’s judgment that Southern’s demise was alcohol-related.
Early investigations revealed that Southern had been drinking brandy and beer throughout the morning before deciding to join two Canadian women who were celebrating a birthday in the cocktail challenge.
Despite the presence of family members and their desperate attempts to help, they were unable to rescue Southern when he began showing severe discomfort symptoms. Onlookers recounted the family’s failed attempts to assist Southern in his distress.
Southern’s family expressed their dissatisfaction with the emergency crews at the hotel, alleging their inadequate preparation to handle such situations effectively. A family member recalled a nurse’s arrival on the scene who allegedly stated that no ambulance had been called. Their hopes for the nurse to take over and manage the situation were dashed as they watched Southern’s condition decline. The family criticized the nurse’s lack of sufficient life-saving training, arguing that the outcome could have been different with better knowledge and preparation. They described the quality of service and treatment as “disgusting.”
