An American dive tourist has died after he lost consciousness getting out of the water.

The man was with a member of his family and had completed a dive off a site in East End on Wednesday morning.

Police say he experienced difficulties as he tried to board a boat with a member of his family.

Staff from the resident dive company, Tortuga Divers, helped the man get onboard the vessel and administrated CPR while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

The man, who is from Pennsylvania, was rushed to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A spokesman for the Royal Cayman Islands Police service said: “About 11:02 a.m. on Wednesday 10 August 2011, police were informed that a 64-year-old man experienced difficulties and lost consciousness while boarding a vessel after completing a dive off a dive site in East End

“The man was conveyed to the Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Police are now investigating the death and say enquiries are ongoing.

Mike Flowers, Reef Resort Director, said they did all they could to save the man’s life.

He added: “It is one of those unfortunate incidents.  He had passed his physical before hand and was on a two-tank dive.

“After the second dive he came up on the ladder and told the boat crew that he was experiencing pain.

“He collapsed on the boat where the crew carried out CPR while waiting for the Emergency Medical Technicians to arrive.

“Reef Resort would like to extend their sincere condolences and prayers to the family.”