27th April 2011

LYME REGIS: Diver lost at sea

Second serious accident to hit diving community this season

By Paul Crompton

A LYME Bay diver is still missing after the second serious incident to hit the dive community this season.

An investigation is underway after a widespread search by at least eight vessels failed to find a 61 year-old man who was diving at the Lanes Ground area of scallop beds in Lyme Bay.

The missing man’s diving partner, who has been praised for his efforts in trying to save his friend despite the danger to his own life, was released from Poole Hospital the next day after treatment in a decompression chamber.

The missing man was later named as Graham Parker.

The two experienced recreational divers were among a group aboard the dive boat Blue Turtle, which sails out of Lyme Regis.

Rob King, skipper of the Blue Turtle, said: “One diver came to the surface in distress having made an uncontrolled rapid ascent. We needed to call for medical assistance for the diver who came to the surface. It was the missing diver’s buddy that came up.

“One had come up in a rapid uncontrolled ascent and he was the one that we called the coastguard about specifically because he obviously had a problem and then as we were able to find out more from him we realised another diver was unaccounted for.

“They weren’t diving a wreck, they were diving on an area of scallop beds. They were both experienced divers.”

In trouble

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 5.30pm on Thursday of last week after the Bristol man apparently got into trouble diving 22 metres deep at around three miles from Lyme Regis harbour.

Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was involved in a search for the missing man alongside the HM Coastguard and the dive charter boat, Weymouth all-weather RNLI lifeboat, the Sidmouth rescue boat and the RFA Gold Rover until the light faded on the day.

The Lyme Regis harbourmaster’s launch also joined the search along with private vessels.

Dorset Police marine section and a local sonar dive company failed to find the missing man on Sunday, April 22nd despite an extensive 10-hour search of a one- kilometre area over the dive site.

Dorchester Detective Inspector Stuart Dipple said: “Our investigation into the circumstances into the incident leads me to believe this was a tragic accident. Our thoughts go out to the missing diver’s family at this distressing and difficult time. I would like to thank the dive buddy for all of his efforts despite the danger to himself. I would also like to thank the coastguards, RNLI and the diving and fishing community in Lyme Bay for their continuing efforts to locate the diver.”

Andrew Jenkins, coastguard watch manager, said: “At this stage, it would be wrong to speculate about the cause of this particular incident.

“But this is the second serious diving accident to have occurred off the Dorset coast already this season and I would like to take this opportunity to remind all divers to make sure they are well prepared, fully trained for the level of dive they are about to undertake and their equipment is properly maintained.”

• Shortly after the volunteers of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew returned home late on Thursday night – after leading the search for a missing diver – they were called out again just after midnight on Good Friday.

Two men were rescued when their 21-foot fishing boat broke down five miles south-east of Lyme Regis.

They had left West Bay and said they were heading for Plymouth when their boat, “Dolphin”, suffered engine failure.

The lifeboat crew towed “Dolphin” to the safety of Lyme Regis harbour, returning at 1.40am.

• Two men aboard a broken down commercial fishing vessel were rescued by the crew of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat on Easter Sunday.

The fishing boat, “Harvest Queen”, developed engine failure nearly three miles south-west of West Bay harbour and was at anchor when the lifeboat arrived.

The engine was restarted as the lifeboat stood by, but failed again.
Harvest Queen was then towed to safety in West Bay harbour.

The lifeboat, Pearl of Dorset, was launched at 0855 and returned to her base in Lyme Regis at 1015.

• Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched for the fourth time in five days on Easter Monday to join the search for a man reported missing.

Coastguards requested a coastal search from Seven Point Rock westwards to Axmouth Harbour.

The search was conducted in conjunction with Lyme Regis and Beer coastguards ashore.

Two lifeboat crew members also joined the search on land.

A coastguard helicopter was also involved.

The lifeboat, which had launched at 1219 was stood down at 1410, by which time the man had not been traced.

PICTURE: The rescue scene three miles off Lyme Regis with RAF Gold Rover on the right and the two lifeboats from Lyme and Weymouth

LYME REGIS: Diver lost at sea

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