It’s a tragedy and a shock to the swimming world to learn that iconic swimmer Jamie Cail has recently died due to accidental fentanyl poisoning. Cail, 42, was found unresponsive by her boyfriend in St. John earlier this year and while her death was initially unconfirmed, the Virgin Islands Police Department has since confirmed that an overdose of fentanyl caused the former swim champion’s death.
“On Tuesday August 22, 2023, the Virgin Islands Police Department received a copy of Jamie Cail’s Autopsy Report from the Medical Examiner’s Office,” police said in a case update. “The report stated the Cause of Death is Fentanyl intoxication with aspiration of gastric content. Manner of death is Accidental.”
“With assistance from a friend, the male was able to get the female to a nearby vehicle and transported the female to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic,” the police statement added. “Once at the clinic, CPR was rendered, and 911 was notified; however, the female succumbed to her ailment.”
As a teenager, Cail was a gold medal-winning U.S. 800-meter free relay team member at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships, and continued to excel in the sport of swimming. She added a silver medal for the same event at the World Swimming Cup in Brazil the following year, and held several records in the 15-16 age group at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. Cail also won two events at the California High School State Championships and eventually swam for the University of Southern California.
