Something in the Water by catherine steadman

Author:catherine steadman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

BRITS’ SCUBA DEATH TRAGEDY

A British couple drowns while scuba diving together in Bora Bora after panicking underwater and removing their breathing gear

A BRITISH couple has died in a tragic scuba-diving accident while on holiday in the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora this week.

Daniel, 35, & Sally Sharpe, 32, died after the accident off the luxury resort island of Bora Bora. The couple were diving together along with their hotel resort dive instructor in a world-renowned scuba spot in the South Pacific when the incident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses the couple panicked, removing their breathing gear while eighteen meters underwater at the Four Seasons dive site.

A police spokesperson for the island said the couple had swallowed mouthfuls of seawater, while an autopsy later showed their lungs were also filled with water.

There were no signs of foul play, a local news website reported.

The Medical Examiner’s Office examined the equipment worn by the couple and experts concluded there were no problems with any of the dive equipment but that both of the Brits’ primary air tanks were empty.

While their secondary tanks did have air, the Sharpes were unable to access them in their panicked state, authorities explained.

The incident unfolded on the afternoon of Saturday, September 17, nine days into the tragic young couple’s planned two-week trip.

Problems began ten minutes into the half-hour dive, when Investex UK fund manager, Sally, noticed her oxygen gauge had swung into the red zone and signaled to the dive leader that she was out of air. It was at this stage, Conrado Tenaglia, 31, the resort’s dive instructor, tried to intervene. But it soon became apparent that Sally’s husband, Daniel Sharpe, was also experiencing trouble. The instructor was unable to assist both divers simultaneously, and panic quickly took hold as the couple, realizing the desperate situation unfolding, fumbled with their own equipment. Eyewitness accounts from other dive group members state that “things escalated fast.” According to fellow diver Kazia Vesely, 29, at some point the masks of both divers came completely off because “they were struggling,” which may have caused both to panic further. The instructor tried to rectify the situation but it quickly spiraled out of control.

“We all started to panic too, the other divers, because we didn’t know what we were supposed to do either. We didn’t know what was happening. We thought there might be something wrong with all our tanks, so we broke off and ascended to call for help from the boat. The instructor signaled us to ascend slowly because we were all panicky. It was really scary,” Kazia told local news agencies.

First responders at the scene where unable to revive the two tourists. Both were declared dead on arrival at Vaitape Medical Center.

The British embassy in the French Polynesian capital of Papeete said it was providing consular support to the family.

Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts.

The location is a favorite amongst honeymooners and the jet set alike, with celebrity couples such as Jennifer Aniston

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