GUERNSEY, UK (4 Sep 2006) -- A scuba diver is today presumed drowned after failing to resurface off Fermain Bay. The local man, who has yet to be named, went on a solo dive on Saturday morning. He was reported overdue just before 4pm, but police said he could have entered the water at any time from 7.30am. A full-scale search was stood down at 10am yesterday and a police dive team started a search for his body. It concluded unsuccessfully at 4pm. Despite blustery force seven southerly winds and rough seas, rescue crews were confident that if the diver had been on the surface, he would have been found. Channel Islands Air Search chief officer Roger Dadd said it was highly likely that he had not surfaced. 'We know he was wearing flotation gear, so had he come to the surface, he would have been buoyant and I expect the very extensive search would have found him,' he said. 'But often with divers, unfortunately they become incapacitated below the water. If he had negative buoyancy with his weight belt, he may have never come up. It is very sad.' The air and sea search was launched just before 5pm on Saturday, but there was no sign of the missing man by sunset. Mr Dadd said sea conditions to the south of the island were moderately rough with white breaking waves, but in the lee of the land it was much more sheltered. Poor weather conditions prevented any search overnight and all craft were stood down at 8.45pm. The search resumed at first light yesterday. Saturday's search effort saw the St Peter Port lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey, the marine ambulance Flying Christine III and Ambulance and Rescue's two inshore boats take part. The bigger boats searched off the coast between Havelet and St Martin's Point. One of the inflatables went close to shore along that stretch and the other searched Belle Greve Bay. | | Marine ambulance Flying Christine III was one of several boats involved in the search. At 5 o'clock, the CIAS plane, Lions' Pride, and the Brecqhou helicopter, which was in transit from London to Guernsey at the time of the distress call, joined in. The sea-based operation was further assisted by the Herm Trident, which searched the middle of the Little Russel, and by the St Peter Port Pilot boat Golden Spur. Ambulance staff were dispatched to various points on the east coast to provide improved radio communications. Seven off-duty staff were called back, with some assisting the search and others maintaining ambulance cover. Mr Dadd said a further search scheduled for 8.30pm had been planned using the thermal imaging camera. But the deteriorating weather conditions forced the Lions' Pride to divert to Jersey Airport after it was stood down. 'Bad weather throughout Saturday night prevented the plane flying and we would have been unable to use the camera due to very low cloud and moisture.' Adverse weather conditions yesterday prevented an air search. The lifeboat, Flying Christine III and two inshore boats resumed operations at sea. SOURCE - This Is GuernseySCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
