GLOUCESTER, UK (1 September 2004) -- A man died shortly after starting a dive after he failed to switch on his breathing apparatus, an inquest heard today. Edwin Girvan, 44, of Laleham, west London, died of asphyxia at the National Diving Centre at Tidenham, Gloucestershire, on May 24 this year. The Gloucester inquest heard that experienced diver Girvan was trying out new diving equipment with two friends at the dive site. The trio had planned to dive 50 metres to the bottom of the site, a former quarry. Mr Girvan went through normal safety checks and procedures and waited for Nick Gilbert and Edina Ochert both from Buckinghamshire to join him in the water, Mr Gilbert told the hearing. The court was told that Mr Girvan switched off his diving kit to preserve the battery while waiting for his diving companions. | | The other divers joined him in the water several minutes later but Mr Girvan failed to switch his diving gear back on before starting the dive. After descending 10 metres he ran out of oxygen, lost consciousness and plummeted to the bottom of the lake, diving expert David Crockford told the hearing. SOURCE - PA NEWS |
