TORQUAY, UK (30 Apr 2009) — Police detectives investigating the scuba diving death of a BSAC diver released the victim's name and urged witnesses to contact them. Paul Leyland, 51, of Topsham, died last Sunday night at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital after a scuba diving accident off Berry Head, Brixham. Leyland, an experienced diver who was a member of the Exeter BSAC scuba diving club, was pulled to shore by other divers and airlifted to hospital. Police detectives want to interview other divers who attempted to revive Leyland about the equipment he was using, which apparently disappeared after the accident. "We want to trace all those who helped afterwards...we know there were a lot of divers and diving team members about at the time," said Det Con Tom Blanchard, of Torquay CID. He added: "There were a number of people who pulled him out. We are a particularly interested to know if they have any observations about the breathing equipment and diving gear used by the casualty." In addition to diver error, equipment failure and contaminated air, the police investigation will look at Leyland's medical record and the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Authorities said South Devon coroner, Ian Arrow, will open an inquest into the death of Paul Leyland later this week. | | Paul Leyland, 51, from Topsham, worked at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital where he was an anaesthetic nurse. He died after a scuba diving accident off Berry Head, Brixham. |
