Police yesterday revealed the name of the 62-year-old visitor who died suddenly during a snorkelling trip.

Alexander Smirnoff of Darien, Connecticut died on Monday at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital shortly after being taken there from Whale Bone Bay in Ferry Reach.

According to Police, Mr. Smirnoff became unconscious while swimming at the beach where he had just arrived following a trip aboard the snorkel tour boat 'Ocean Spirit'.

Coroner's officer Inspector Phil Taylor said Mr. Smirnoff died of "heart-related problems".

The US Consulate General is aiming to issue slips of paper to Bermudian travellers confirming their visa-free status by the end of the week.

Travellers have been delayed and hassled for visas they do not need after America tightened its borders due to terrorist fears last week.

New American Consul Jill Esposito said 1,000 of the passport size slips with seals had been ordered but she could not say if all would be ready by Friday.

Slips will be sent to travel agents, Bermuda immigration and the airport.

Old slips, dated December, 1989, are no longer valid said Mrs. Esposito who got clearance from Washington for the new issue yesterday.

The consulate has been flooded with inquiries about the slips.

Mrs. Esposito said her department were telling travel firms that Bermudians still generally had the right to travel to the US without a visa.

An unhappy boater reported to Police that his brand new punt went missing on Sunday afternoon.

The ten-foot white plastic Walker Bay punt, which had not been registered yet, went missing from the complainant's mooring at the eastern end of Jew's Bay in Southampton.

Police report that the incident occurred sometime between 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and are currently carrying out inquiries into the theft.

A St. Brendan's Hospital patient who escaped on Monday night wasn't on the loose for long.

A Police spokesman said the 60-year-old woman escaped from the hospital and ran into a nearby house.

Police officers and security from the hospital quickly captured the woman and returned her to the hospital.