WELLINGTON, New Zealand (23 Apr 2006) -- A NORTH Wales boat skipper told of his "desperate sadness" last night after his friend drowned on an Easter diving trip. Scott Waterman, a British Sub-Aqua Club diver with 18 years experience, watched in horror as the lifeless body of Michael Bromsgrove was dragged into his boat. He said his crew desperately tried to revive the father-of-two who had got into trouble during the four-day trip off the Isle of Man. But Mr Bromsgrove, 41, from Liverpool, died on the deck of Mr Water-man's dive boat, called Endeavour. Mr Waterman, of Menai Bridge, had known Mr Bromsgrove for eight years. He said Mr Bromsgrove had been part of a 10-strong group which had chartered the 40-foot vessel for the expedition. Last Sunday afternoon the group were diving on a shipwreck two miles off the Manx coast at Port Erin. Mr Waterman said: "I'm absolutely gutted by what has happened. Michael was a very experienced diver, able to use mixed gas on dives of up to 60 metres." He added: "Michael was always laughing and joking and had a proper Scouse sense of humour. "He took it very seriously and always observed safety procedures. That dive should have been a walk in the park. It's very, very sad." Mr Waterman said the group were on their last dive of the day before returning to port when the incident happened at about 3.40pm. "One of the divers found Michael on the bottom and brought him back to the boat. Endeavour has a hoist and we were able to lift him on board. Other members of the party tried to revive him while I contacted the coastguards. Because of our position north of the Isle of Man I was only able to speak to Belfast Coastguard who co-ordinated the rescue. | | Endeavour dive boat "The Port Erin inshore lifeboat was launched but by the time they arrived Michael was already dead. With other divers still in the water we couldn't leave the scene but the lifeboat brought them ashore while we went back to port." Mr Bromsgrove, a keen watersports fan, started diving aged 30 when the family bought him a 'try-dive' for his birthday. He had a wife, Christine, and two children Becky, 14, and Dan, 17. An investigation has been launched, in conjunction with the Marine Accident Investigators, to find out what happened, but Isle of Man Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Manx coroner Alan Jones said: "The man got into trouble as he underwent a solo dive and was spotted drifting below the surface of the water." A post mortem examination is due to be carried out and an inquest will be held later. SOURCE - Daily PosySCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
