DEVON, UK (23 Oct 2008) — Tributes have been paid to a Devon teacher who died while diving with children on a school trip. Janet A'Lee, 52, a teacher at Blundell's School in Tiverton, died after getting into difficulties at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands. Mrs A'Lee was in Orkney with her partner, also a teacher at the school but who has not been named, to run a half-term visit for the school's sub aqua club. Two children from the sixth form at Blundell's were with them as well as five other teenagers from the local area. She was diving with one of the senior male pupils while her partner was diving in another area with the rest of the group. When Mrs A'Lee resurfaced, she appeared to be in difficulty and fell unconscious. She was taken ashore by boat to Houton Pier, Orphir, but was pronounced dead at the scene on Monday, despite the efforts of the crew and attending paramedics and doctors. Mrs A'Lee, an Exeter University graduate, was responsible for learning support and personal and social development classes at the school. Headteacher Ian Davenport said: "This is a tragedy for Janet's family and friends and our thoughts and prayers are very much with them. "The police have confirmed that all the other members of the party, staff and pupils, are safe and well. "Janet was a very experienced and highly qualified diver and a popular and respected member of staff. "This awful accident is the subject of a police investigation and we will be cooperating fully in any way we can." He said the school was taking steps to ensure the safe return of the other members of the party and to offer full support and counselling to all those close to the tragedy. The Health and Safety Executive is also investigating and police inquiries are continuing into the circumstances. The school party's members are waiting for investigators to decide when they can return to Devon. "We have done all we can to let the whole Blundell's community know, as well as parents and everyone concerned," Mr Davenport said. "When the party returns, we will put an action plan into place in terms of support but we will know much more about what happened in the next 24 hours." | | Janet A'Lee was a popular teacher and an experienced diver who was a member of the Blundell's School Sub-Aqua Club executive committee that organized and supervised scuba diving activities for aimed at teachers, students and family members. Mrs A'Lee had extensive diving qualifications and had done at least 50 open water dives. A spokesman for the Northern Constabulary said: "The deceased was in Orkney with her partner on a diving trip. "There were seven in the party, which included senior pupils from the school they both worked at in Tiverton, when the incident happened. "When taken ashore by boat, she was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of the boat's crew. Her partner was diving in another area with the rest of the group. "The family have asked to be allowed to grieve in peace." Scapa Flow is a popular area for divers as it contains some of the wrecks of the German fleet which was scuttled at the end of the First World War. Divers are permitted to enter inside the wrecks, but not to retrieve artifacts located within 100 metres of any wreck.. |
