Death of diver in Dingle Easter 2004

Benny-c

Article in yesterdays Irish Independent (16/05/2006)


Cylinder in dive death 'damp and rusty'




A DIVING cylinder used by an English school teacher who died while diving off the Dingle Peninsula was in "a damp and rusty state".

The coroner holding the inquest has called for statutory regulations to govern diving centres.

Heather Jane Schofield, a geography teacher from Lancashire, died five days short of her 26th birthday during a diving accident on Easter Monday two years ago. A qualified diver, she arranged a dive with the Dingle Marina Dive Centre and rented gear from them.

The inquest in Tralee yesterday heard no criminal prosecution is to be brought in relation to the death. Neal Clayton, a partner in the Diving Centre, with Jacqueline Cozens, then of Dunsheen, Dingle, but now living in London, said they regularly serviced equipment. They ordered a test of the cylinders when they took over the centre in June 2003.

Evidence was given that the cylinders, dating from 1997, were not serviced until 2003, and should have been visually inspected annually and pressure-tested every five years.

A number of the cylinders from the Dingle Centre were destroyed because they were corroded and rusty inside. However, all those sent back for use to the centre were safe.

Evidence was given that the cylinder used by Ms Schofield was in "a damp and rusty state" internally. All her other equipment was in good working order. At the outset the inquest heard no criminal prosecution is to be brought.

Her dive buddy, John Beresford from Tallaght, said he and Heather checked each other under the water a number of times but 15 minutes into the dive he felt dizzy and resurfaced alone.

Mr Clayton, a qualified diving instructor, said under the buddy system Ms Schofield should have accompanied Mr Beresford to the surface.

The jury returned a verdict of of death from misadventure.

Anne Lucey