RAGLAN, UK (12 Aug 2006) -- The funeral has taken place of a father and son from Monmouthshire who died in a scuba-diving accident off the Mediterranean island of Gozo.
Welsh heritage expert Richard Avent, 58, and his 16-year-old son Rhydian died last week on holiday in Malta. The service was held at St Cadoc's Church in their home village of Raglan on Saturday. An investigation has begun into how the father and son, who had just taken his GCSEs, drowned on the family holiday. The pair, who were both novice divers, got into difficulties about 50ft (15m) down on a dive off Gozo island, near Malta. Mr Avent's wife, Dr Sian Rees, an experienced diver, was also on the dive and tried to resuscitate them. But the pair were dead when paramedics arrived on the scene. 'International reputation' Mr Avent, was chief inspector of the assembly government's ancient monuments and historic buildings body Cadw. His wife is also a senior official with the agency. The family's two older children were not on the holiday. First Minister Rhodri Morgan has paid tribute to Mr Avent, saying he made a "massive contribution to the protection and conservation of Wales' most treasured historic sites and buildings". | 
