TOWNSVILLE, Australia (6 May 2006) -- The husband of an American woman who died in a diving accident off Townsville says he was lucky to escape with his own life. Gabe Watson says he almost drowned trying to rescue his wife Tina, who died near the Yongala wreck almost three years ago. Speaking through his American-based lawyer Bob Austin, Mr Watson said he nearly drowned in the strong currents trying to save Tina. "He told me the tidal currents were very swift, and they were fighting to get back to the buoy," Mr Austin, a family friend to the Watsons of 20 years, said. "Apparently Tina panicked and grabbed at Gabe's face mask, pulling it off his face. "He let go of her to replace his mask, and by that time, she was swept away. "He is wondering if there was something wrong with their diving equipment, or whether they should have even been diving that day in those conditions. "I know he wishes he had questioned the dive master about the circumstances and maybe not trusted someone else." The couple was on honeymoon in Australia and had been in Townsville just one day when they ventured out to the Great Barrier Reef with company Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, to dive on Yongala, about 48 nautical miles south-east of Townsville. Gabe, an accomplished and qualified diver, and Tina, a relatively inexperienced diver, were reportedly on their second dive of the day off the boat the Spoil Sport when they struck trouble. Mr Watson has avoided media attention since the event, however Tina's parents Tom and Cindy Thomas, who have had little contact with their son-in-law since the accident, were in Townsville last month demanding to know why an investigation into their daughter's death had stalled. They want Queensland police to travel to the US to finalise their investigation. Mr Watson, of Birmingham in the south-eastern US state of Alabama, also criticised the lack of action by Australian police in finalising the investigation. "Gabe was hoping by now to have some idea about the cause of death, aside from drowning," Mr Austin said. "He is not talking to the media, as he is a very private person, and he has had a hard enough time. "Nothing they do or say is going to change anything - he is still going to be a widower. "He just wants closure." Mr Austin said no legal action had been taken by Mr Watson at this stage, but that there was a three-year statute of limitations on bringing an action for wrongful death, with that window closing on October 22 this year. Mr Austin alleged the Watsons were not properly briefed on the conditions of the water that day, prompting an investigation by Australian Workplace Health and Safety into Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. It has been confirmed that a Workplace Health and Safety report was undertaken following the incident, and that charges were laid against Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for breaches under the Workplace Health and Safety Act, to be heard in the Townsville Industrial Magistrates Court on May 16. | | Gabe and Tina Watson But Mr Austin denied his client had at this stage filed papers against Mike Ball Dive Expeditions to sue for wrongful death. "No one has said anything about suing anybody," he said. "Nobody has made any allegations except Gabe, saying that the currents were too strong for diving that day, especially for an inexperienced diver such as Tina. "Even if the company was found culpable, the legal process in Australia for wrongful death would not warrant our legal action - but it would be some satisfaction for Gabe that he did everything he could, and give him peace of mind." Mr Austin said his client was told before he left Australia in October 2003 that the investigation would take six months to a year before a report was placed before the coroner, and that timeframe had now been well and truly exceeded. He said his client was also assured that his and Tina's dive equipment would be tested and returned to him, which had not been the case. Mr Austin also said there was no need to send an Australian detective over to the US to finalise investigations, saying American police officers were competent to conduct their own investigations. "They can do a lot more than spend thousands of dollars to send a detective over," he said. "It has nothing to do with US officials not understanding Queensland law - facts are facts, no matter what continent you are on. "Queensland police could make telephone calls, conduct interviews by teleconferencing, and write out the questions they want asked by our police officers. "But no one has tried to contact Gabe in the past two-and-a-half years. "He has tried to ring and email Townsville investigators about where things stand, but has had no luck, so we have contacted a Townsville lawyer to keep us up to date. "This is a chapter that needs to be written and finalised." SOURCE - Townsville BulletinSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
