WHITSUNDAYS, Australia (4 July 2007) -- Authorities have released the identity of a German tourist killed scuba diving in the Whitsundays. Armin Werner, 28, died last Sunday while scuba diving off the 'Gladiator' dive boat owned and operated by Dive Time. Dive Time has issued a company-wide gag order to prevent its employees from making statements that could be incriminating in the event of a wrongful death lawsuit. Dive Queensland spin Instead, the notorious Dive Queensland dive tourism marketing group stepped in to defend the safety record of dive operators who take tourists diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. "The Barrier Reef is one of the safest places in the world, not only because of Workplace Health and Safety regulations, but because it's well protected, has limited currents and good visibility," said Margie McKenzie. According to the Port Douglas police, Dive Queensland, an organization comprised mostly of local dive operators, was directly involved with and possibly responsible for spreading rumors that a young American couple had faked their deaths rather than dying after being left behind by Outer Edge dive boat owner and operator Jack Nairn. To date, the other McKenzie at Dive Queensland, Col, insists the Lonergans are still alive. "Most marine experts (sic), myself included, feel that the Lonergans are not dead," said McKenzie. McKenzie's comments provoked criticism and protests from divers and non-divers around the world, as well as the B-movie hit Open Water, which portrayed the young couple as victims of an unsafe and inept dive boat operator. Slow response The latest scuba diving accident involved an experienced diver who collapsed after resurfacing and returning to Dive Time's dive boat. "He surfaced after the dive and indicated to the vessel that he was OK, then he swam 15 to 20m back to the vessel," Sen-Constable Brett Norris said. | | Dive Time's Gladiator dive boat. The company has declined comment on the scuba diving accident that killed German tourist, Armin Werner.  View larger image"(Werner) was getting up on the boat when he collapsed, I think someone grabbed him as he was falling back into the water," Norris added. According to police statements, that was at about 11:45am. The RACQ-CQ rescue helicopter did not arrive at the dive boat until 1:15pm, an hour and a half after Werner collapsed. By that time, all that was left to do for the paramedic and rescue crewman who were winched on board the boat was to pronounce the victim dead and haul him off to the morgue. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba ForumCDNN Related NewsAUSTRALIA - Dive Time scuba diving death a mysteryAUSTRALIA - German tourist dies scuba diving in Whitsundays |
