U.S. family vacation nightmare: Two sons in coma and father paralyzed after pesticide poisoning at $875/night luxury Caribbean resort

by Rachel Alexander | April 5, 2015 1:10 pm

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This is one of those Titanic types of stories you never expect to happen. You work hard your whole life, and can finally afford the most luxurious vacation in the world, but end up risking your life. This happened to a wealthy family from New Jersey while vacationing in the Caribbean Islands.[3]

According to the Daily Mail,

Two Delaware boys are in a coma and their father remains unable to move or talk two weeks after the family became sick from possible pesticide exposure during a vacation on the US Virgin Islands, officials say.

Steve Esmond and his wife, Dr Theresa Devine, and their two teenage sons fell seriously ill during their stay at the Sirenusa Condominium Resort on the island of St. John.

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The mother, Dr. Theresa Devine, has recovered and undergoing occupational therapy. The father Steve Esmond, top right, is conscious but unable to move.

The family were airlifted to separate hospitals in Philadelphia suffering major respiratory trauma. Sean, 16, and Ryan, 14, were in critical condition.

Maron said Esmond, who is an administrator of the private Tatnall School in Wilmington, is conscious but unable to move.

Devine, a dentist, was treated and released from the hospital and is currently in occupational therapy.

On Friday a spokesman from the US Environmental Protection agency said that the family may have fallen ill because of the presence of a pesticide at the rented villa.

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Both sons are still in comas. Sean is pictured here.

Elias Rodriguez said preliminary tests showed there was ‘a presence of methyl bromide in the unit where the family was staying’.
Methyl Bromide, which is odorless, can be fatal or cause serious damage to the central nervous system and respiratory system, according to the EPA.

Sea Glass Vacations, which acts as a rental agent for several units at Sirenusa Condominium Resort, said the unit where the family was staying was not treated with a pesticide, but rather the unit immediately below their suite.Maron said when paramedics arrived at the villa Esmond was found unconscious.
His sons and wife were having seizures.
The US Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into the matter.

Sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side. Here in the U.S., the use of the pesticide would have been much more highly regulated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time, as they await the results of tests and hopefully recover.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://rightwingnews1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/resort.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://rightwingnews1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/stvesmnd.jpg
  3. This happened to a wealthy family from New Jersey while vacationing in the Caribbean Islands.: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3026095/Two-Delaware-boys-coma-family-poisoned-pesticide-Virgin-Islansdsholiday.html
  4. [Image]: https://rightwingnews1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/thrsdvn.jpg
  5. [Image]: https://rightwingnews1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/snesmnd.jpg

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