DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (15 Oct 2002) -- Initial autopsy reports indicate that Audrey Mestre drowned to death in a failed attempt to break the "No Limits" world free diving record set by her husband, Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras. The 28-year-old French woman was pulled out the water foaming from the mouth and bleeding 9 minutes, 44 seconds after plunging to a depth of 171-meters (561-feet) on a 91-kilogram (200-pound) weighted sled. Although Mestre reached the target depth, she failed to set a new record because according to standards and procedures that govern free diving competitions, records and events, divers must safely return to the surface without losing consciousness. And even though Mestre reportedly reached the depth during practice sessions prior to the official record attempt, standards and procedures strictly forbid such dives from being recognized as official records. Mestre got involved in free diving after meeting Ferreras, whom she later married, and worked as an evaluator and instructor at her husband's Miami-based International Association of Free Divers (IAFD). Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras planned to cash in on Mestre's dive by selling footage to IMAX movie producers. According to unconfirmed reports, Mestre's death means a much bigger movie deal may already be in the works... | | Audrey Mestre: She's gone now but let there be no doubt many are already scheming to profit from her tragic death. Ironically, Ferreras, who promoted Mestre's tragic record attempt as an opportunity to witness "...the ONLY WOMAN to TRULY surpass an Absolute No Limits World Record - Male or Female - when she reaches her target of beyond -171 meters!" (Ferreras's caps and punctuation), also claims he wants to popularize the sport by "...increasing (free diving) safety through education and programs." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
