HOOVER, Alabama (21 May 2008) — AN American whose wife died while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef has dropped his legal action in the US that could have seen him paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gabe Watson was suing a travel insurance company after it refused a payout on the cost of his honeymoon trip to Australia after his wife, Tina Watson, died at a shipwreck off Townsville in 2003. Mr Watson, an expert diver from Hoover, Alabama, was seeking more than $US45,000 plus unspecified punitive damages and damages for mental anguish. Christina "Tina" Thomas Watson, 26, also from Alabama, died while diving on the wreck of the Yongala, 89km southeast of Townsville, on October 22, 2003. The couple were only 10 days into their honeymoon. The former model's death is the subject of a coronial inquiry in Townsville that resumes on June 19. In February, the inquiry heard equipment failure and a medical condition had been ruled out as possible causes of her death. Coroner David Glasgow has the power to issue a warrant for Mr Watson's arrest. He would need to be extradited back to Australia from the US to face any possible charges. In March 2005, Mr Watson launched legal action in Alabama's Jefferson County Circuit Court to recoup the cost of their trip after the travel insurance company refused a payout. He was seeking money for accidental death, trip interruption, medical expenses, phone calls, taxi fares, fees for extra credit card statements and compensation for mental and emotional anguish. The Birmingham News reported the action had been dismissed by Judge Ed Ramsey on Mr Watson's request. In court filings Mr Watson referred to the Australian investigation into his wife's death, which caused him "to reasonably apprehend that he risks self-incrimination in this case". Mr Watson's US-based lawyer, Bob Austin, yesterday confirmed the case had been dropped. Mr Watson's Australian legal team believed "it was not in his best interest" to pursue the damages claim, he said. Mr Austin added that Mr Watson would not be voluntarily "going back to Australia". Mr Watson's court action in the US was against the travel agency that arranged the trip, Getaway of Birmingham, Alabama, and travel insurers Old Republic Insurance Co and Travelex Insurance Services. | 
