A diver is missing after disappearing during a 57m wreck dive off the North East coast. The diver was in a group of four diving on the Dannies wreck, 7 miles east of Coquet Island, off the River Amble.

The incident occurred in the afternoon on 5 June. The divers' chartered hardboat Spellbinder II put out an emergency call and searches were carried out by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer, RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats, several fishing boats, and a Sea King helicopter from HMS Illustrious, which was in the area.

Search conditions were reasonable, with a moderate Force 3 wind and an overcast but acceptably clear sky, except in occasional showers. However, no trace of the diver was found.

Both Humber Coastguard and Northumbria Police Marine Unit have confirmed that all four divers were using rebreathers and, while operating loosely in a group, were effectively diving solo. Two were using distance lines attached to the wreck shotline, while the other two were unattached. It is one of these divers who was lost.

An inspector at Northumbria Police Marine Unit has described the divers as from the Newcastle area, and part of a group which uses Spellbinder II regularly. He confirmed that, on 6 June, sport divers were out again on the boat conducting a diving search around the wreck.

If the missing diver is not located, further searches may be considered. These would be contracted out to commercial divers or ROV operators, as the depth of the Dannies wreck exceeds that to which Northumbria Police Marine Unit is permitted to dive.


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