Lyme Bay Diving Fatality

A PENSIONER has died while diving on a wreck in Lyme Bay. Dive vessel Blue Turtle crew raised the alarm when the 65-year-old man surfaced unconscious after 15 minutes in the water with a team of six other divers.
The man was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, by coastguard helicopter but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Portland Coastguard said it received an emergency radio call from the Lyme Regis-based boat at 12.04pm yesterday.
The town’s lifeboat was launched and several vessels offered assistance, including Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay.
The group had been diving down to 31 metres on a wreck called Moidart.
A coastguard spokesman said: “He was with his dive buddy and he was okay until two metres below the surface and he indicated by his gauge he had plenty of air, but when they finally got to the top he was on his back.
“He underwent quite a lot of resuscitation and the helicopter crew worked on him on the way to Dorchester’s hospital.
“We told the crew of Blue Turtle to get back immediately into Lyme Regis and to make sure nobody left the boat before seeing the police for interview.”
The man, from the Notting Hill area of London, was declared dead at the hospital.