ISLE OF MAN (6 Mar 2008) — An inquest has heard how an experienced diver met with his death in waters off Port Erin. Builder Michael Bromsgrove, 41, of Anfield, got into trouble minutes into what his friend Albert Roberts described as 'a beginner's dive' on April 16, 2006. A three-day inquest into his death opened at Douglas courthouse yesterday (Wednesday). Mr Bromsgrove had been in good spirits prior to the dive and he and Mr Roberts had decided against embarking on the 14-metre dive, but Mr Bromsgrove changed his mind. Mr Bromsgrove, wearing a rebreather diving unit, was the last of the group to dive from the boat. He raised no concerns about his equipment and had dived successfully earlier that day. Mr Roberts said he had no concerns about his friend diving alone. He explained that they had both been diving for 12 years. 'I would say we were very experienced at what we were doing,' he said. The inquest heard that the friends did not have tri-mix gas rebreather training, but had undertaken this training on an open-circuit diving kit. However, Mr Roberts said his friend's experience, even with gas, was 'ample' and the inquest heard that their training was the same as about half of the divers who had been out with the boat's skipper Scott Waterman. Mr Waterman said: 'I knew he was an extremely competent diver and OK to be in 14 metres of water.' But within five minutes of Mr Bromsgrove diving, Mr Waterman saw him return to the surface and the top of his head came out for seconds, before he descended followed by a stream of bubbles. After seeing this Mr Waterman thought Mr Bromsgrove might be on his way back to the surface and re-positioned the boat. | | On reflection he said he thought Mr Bromsgrove had stopped breathing when he hit the surface and his mouth piece fell out, causing his diving unit to flood. Diver Clive Ward came across Mr Bromsgrove unconscious in the water and used an inflatable lift bag to return him to the surface. Mr Bromsgrove was lifted on to the boat and given first aid, but on return to shore was declared dead. The inquest has heard technical evidence about the operation of the rebreather dive unit and is looking into its maintenance and into whether Mr Bromsgrove suffered a lack of oxygen during the dive. Nicholas Bailey, of the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton, examined the rebreather unit and found both its handsets switched off. The unit's battery box had been flooded and cardboard wedges had been inserted to hold the batteries. The inquest continues. SOURCE - IOMTodayCDNN RELATED NEWSFLORIDA - Endeavour dive boat owner devastated by friend's deathSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
