John Bartlett Cause of Death: Shedding Light on the Tragic Loss!

John Bartlett was the main navigator for Diana Nyad when she attempted to swim from Cuba to Florida in the Netflix movie ‘Nyad.’

He helped her without expecting anything in return. Knowing that he was not well and wouldn’t live much longer, he put all his efforts into helping Diana succeed in her historic swim.

In real life, just like in the movie, John Bartlett played a crucial role in Diana’s success, which is why the film is dedicated to his memory. He passed away a few months after Diana completed her more than 100-mile swim and arrived in Key West.

John Bartlett Cause of Death

John Bartlett died silently in his sleep at home on December 10, 2013, at the age of 66. His death was caused by heart failure, as Diana stated in her book ‘Find a Way.’ He was married to Elke Thuerling for 21 years and lived in Alva, Florida.

“My heart is so heavy and words can’t express the pain and ache at the thought of him being gone. I cherish the memories of our many adventures and all the special friends we have made over the years,” Thuerling shared in a Facebook post after Bartlett’s passing. “I am in deep gratitude for the constant flowing of love that I am receiving,” she added. During his last days, Bartlett was committed to building a trimaran. “Treasured friends of John’s and mine wanted to contribute to the completion of John’s recent creation, a dream of his to design and build a Trimaran. He was almost finished. I am deeply touched by all who have shared the wish to see the completion of the boat we affectionately named ‘Catnahaf,’” his wife shared in the same post.

Celebrating the life of my dear friend and navigator John Bartlett. He will be forever in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/AwxuBJmPRN

— Diana Nyad (@diananyad) December 19, 2013

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John Bartlett’s Remarkable Journey: From Oakland to Florida!

John Bartlett, born on June 22, 1947, in Oakland, California, was a man of many talents. When he was young, he learned about industrial and architectural design at the Pratt Institute in New York City.

He also knew carpentry, how to sail boats, and even played the bass in a band called Electric Cowboy. Later, he moved to Florida and lived there for about 30 years.

He owned a business that made sails and ran an eco charter business with his wife, Elke Margaret Thuerling. Besides, he was a respected sailor and navigator, which is how he got connected with Diana Nyad.

Diana and John Bartlett became very close friends. They had a strong bond. He was an extraordinary person who knew a lot about the Gulf Stream. He helped Diana when she swam from Cuba to Florida. He hardly ever slept because he had to keep an eye on things while she was swimming.

Diana mentioned in ‘The Swimmer: The Diana Nyad Story’ that Bartlett didn’t even sleep during her swim. She said, “The only ones who never left, never slept, are Bonnie and Bartlett.”

In the movie, it’s clear that Bartlett had money problems toward the end of his life. But that didn’t stop him from helping Diana achieve her dream. He told Diana that his friends asked why he was spending all his money to help her. He said he had never seen anyone as determined as her, and he couldn’t say no. He told her, “I can’t get any more broke. I’ll be there for you.”