WANSTEAD, UK (17 June 2005) -- A local doctor died in a scuba-diving accident whilst on holiday with two of her children, an inquest has heard. Susan Lack, 50, died almost immediately after ascending too quickly to the surface of the Red Sea at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. On Friday, Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard that Dr Lack was an experienced diver and had gone on holiday in November 2002, to get more diving qualifications. She died during a multi-level dive, although she had completed a successful one the previous day. In a statement read to the court, diving instructor Denis Priymenko said Dr Lack dropped to 33m at the beginning of the dive but rose again to 30m. He said: "She was positioned between myself and the reef wall but after eight minutes she went up to the surface very fast. "I tried to stop her but I couldn't manage it. I followed her to the surface but a strong current had already taken her 10m." The court heard that Dr Lack was unconscious with her head submerged when reached by Mr Priymenko. He lifted her head out of the water and inflated her jacket but she was not breathing and had no pulse. He started mouth-to-mouth and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation when they reached the dive boat. Dr Lack was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. It is unknown whether it was equipment failure or panic that led her to ascend rapidly. Ian Calder, an eminent pathologist in the field of diving, said Dr Lack died from a ruptured lung as a result of not breathing out during her rapid ascent. He said she could have been saved by a controlled ascent or breathing out. Most of the damage would have occurred near the surface and a recompression chamber would not have been effective. | | Dr. Susan Lack died scuba diving in Sharm El Shiekh. Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray ruled the death accidental. Dr Lack, of Baldwins Hill, Loughton, worked at the Wanstead Place Health Centre for five years but left two months before her accident. She was married to Tom McAuliffe, a surgeon at Whipps Cross Hospital, and she leaves four children. At the time of her death tributes were paid by many of her patients and colleagues. Dr Susan Robinson, the senior partner at the surgery, described her as popular and caring'. She said: "She was a much valued partner and will be sorely missed by everyone at the surgery." SOURCE - Wanstead Guardian |
