Sarah
02-04-2007, 06:29 AM
A rebreather diver who died last year at Ship's Cove failed to turn on his handsets.
The official inquest was performed by Blenheim coroner Peter Radich found Nigel Peter Lees, 48 of Stratford, died of hypoxia with subsequent drowning on September 22, 2005, the result of operator error.
A Police National Dive Squad report presented at the inquest stated Mr Lees had been solo diving off a chartered boat in good weather conditions to give his kit a checkout. He was also planning to clear mussels off the mooring line and collect crayfish.
Mr. Lees and his wife along with several others had chartered the dive boat the Sandpiper to dive the Lermotov and other wrecks over a four day trip.
The report stated that because Mr. Lees' electronic handsets were not turned on, which caused his gas mix to become hypoxic.
The report noted Mr Lees was an experienced diver and methodical in the maintenance of his equipment. However he went solo diving, which the report states is against safe diving practice and he failed to ensure his equipment was turned on. His rig was found to be in proper working order.
One of the divers on the trip, David Young, noted that they had become worried when Mr. Lees did not surface for some time, and eventually he found Mr. Lees' body at a depth of 15m lying face down with his handsets turned off.
Mr Young said CPR was immediately started from the boat but attempts were unsucessful in reviving the diver.
Mr. Radich said the long delay between Mr Lees' death and the inquest was because the rebreather had sent to the manufactuer in England to be checked.
He said Mr Lees' death was "yet another diving death which highlights the dangers of diving" and the need for proper procedures and checks were needed where equipment was concerned.
The official inquest was performed by Blenheim coroner Peter Radich found Nigel Peter Lees, 48 of Stratford, died of hypoxia with subsequent drowning on September 22, 2005, the result of operator error.
A Police National Dive Squad report presented at the inquest stated Mr Lees had been solo diving off a chartered boat in good weather conditions to give his kit a checkout. He was also planning to clear mussels off the mooring line and collect crayfish.
Mr. Lees and his wife along with several others had chartered the dive boat the Sandpiper to dive the Lermotov and other wrecks over a four day trip.
The report stated that because Mr. Lees' electronic handsets were not turned on, which caused his gas mix to become hypoxic.
The report noted Mr Lees was an experienced diver and methodical in the maintenance of his equipment. However he went solo diving, which the report states is against safe diving practice and he failed to ensure his equipment was turned on. His rig was found to be in proper working order.
One of the divers on the trip, David Young, noted that they had become worried when Mr. Lees did not surface for some time, and eventually he found Mr. Lees' body at a depth of 15m lying face down with his handsets turned off.
Mr Young said CPR was immediately started from the boat but attempts were unsucessful in reviving the diver.
Mr. Radich said the long delay between Mr Lees' death and the inquest was because the rebreather had sent to the manufactuer in England to be checked.
He said Mr Lees' death was "yet another diving death which highlights the dangers of diving" and the need for proper procedures and checks were needed where equipment was concerned.