GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UK (15 May 2008) — A professional diver servicing a lock was crushed to death by three metres of water after a "primitive" leaky dam burst over him, an inquest heard. David Moore, 29, was beneath the Upper Lode lock gate, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, when he became trapped under the water in October 2004. Today an inquest jury heard that sealing up the temporary dam where he was working was just a "hessian sausage" of sacking - a method which had not been questioned for 40 years. Mr Moore, of Southsea, Hampshire, who had recently become engaged, was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital but died soon after. The Crown Prosecution Service decided no criminal charges were justified. Richard Rowles, who was running the project for British Waterways, told the jury the hessian seal had never been tested for strength before it burst. Toby Halliwell, representing the diving company, suggested the device was "pretty primitive". Mr Rowles said: "It has been used for 40 years previously." Mr Halliwell asked: "Were they ever formally assessed from an engineering perspective to consider tolerance and under what circumstances they might fail?" "I don't believe so, no," Mr Rowles replied. The dead man's father Alick Moore, a retired naval officer, asked why the leaking seal was not inspected once the lock had been pumped dry. Mr Rowles said: "A dam has to prove itself for 24 hours before anyone works behind it." He added: "It was envisaged that there would be leaks of some amount and no one expressed concern." No one from the diving team had told him that death might result from going into the water, he said. Mr Rowles also denied the team had been put under pressure to finish the inspection in time for the school holidays. | | David Moore died while working as a diver at the age of 29. Opening the eight-day case, Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore told the jury Mr Moore was part of a maintenance crew draining the lock, leaving the walls and floor exposed. Temporary dams - known as shrouding - were to be installed both upstream and downstream, allowing water inside to be pumped out, Mr Crickmore explained. Mr Moore, of Victoria Grove, died in the water. Jurors were taken to the scene in life-jackets and hard hats to see the dimensions of the lock and the "lay of the land". Gloucestershire Police, the Health and Safety Executive and British Waterways are all represented in the case. Mr Moore's mother, Penny, 59, of Trudoxhill, Frome, Somerset, and his fiancee, Shelly Blane, 34, also attended the hearing. The hearing continues later today. SOURCE - The NewsSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
