A verdict of misadventure at the inquest into death of a qualified diver who died after inhaling his own vomit at St Abbs in April 2001, has provoked confusion over appropriate safety standards for recreational dives.

48-year-old John Hawkins from Birchencliffe near Huddersfield died after surfacing from a 22m dive at St Abbs in April 2001. He was conscious at the surface, but collapsed into unconsciousness while waiting for the approach of the diveboat. He was rushed to shore where paramedics spent 30 minutes trying to resuscitate him. A post mortem later revealed that he had suffocated on his own vomit.

Hawkins had qualified as a PADI openwater diver while abroad a month prior to the incident. He contacted Seadog Diving Club in Fartown on his return to take up diving in the UK and was planning to take an Advanced Open Water qualification, but he was not under instruction at the time of the incident.

The fatal incident occured after Hawkins third dive at St Abbs. He was buddied with a more experienced PADI Rescue diver, and was dropped into 8m of water close to the shore. Hawkins' dive computer showed that the two men conducted their dive, working their way gradually to a depth of 22m before ascending to the surface to await collection by the diveboat. Sea conditions on the day were calm, and the sun was shining.

Hawkins had kept his regulator in his mouth on the surface but appeared to collapse face down in the water as the boat approached. He was recovered into the boat and the emergency services summoned. His dive equipment was taken by the police and found to be in working order.

Hawkins had borrowed a drysuit from the dive centre, after completing pool training in the use of the suit. He had successfully completed two sea dives with the suit without incident, but there was speculation at the inquest that it may have leaked.

The HSE investigated the death shortly afterward, but made no criticism of the PADI dive operation and appeared not find any lapse of safety procedure that would warrant their intervention. The HSE recognise that the standard of supervision required for recreational diving by qualified divers differs from the standard required for trainees on a course.

However, ScotSAC diver Ian Neilson, the expert witness appointed by the Scottish Procurator Fiscal, made a series of criticisms of the dive operation. He asserted that St Abbs is not a suitable diving location for inexperienced divers and that Hawkins had been inadequately trained and supervised for the type of dive being undertaken.

Coroner Mr David Hinchliff was quoted in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner as saying "This was a serious expedition and he (Hawkins) should have received correct and expert diving tuition in all the circumstances."

PADI's website describes the PADI openwater qualification in the following way As a certified PADI Open Water Diver, the most widely recognized and respected rating in the world, you have the freedom to dive with a buddy independent of a professional. Jill Atkinson, of Sub Aqua Divers (Scoutscroft) which is based at St Abbs told Divernet that St Abbs is a safe place for trainee and inexperienced divers. "People have been doing their PADI qualifications from this centre for 10 years. Every weekend dozens of clubs and schools bring newly qualified divers here to dive. I cannot understand why anyone would describe it as unsuitable for newly qualified PADI openwater divers."

Barry Whiteley, PADI instructor at Sea Dog Club told Divernet that he was totally confused by the misadventure verdict. "I don't see that there is anything that I could have done differently. He was a qualified openwater diver, buddied with someone more experienced, and conducting his own dive. He seemed fine on the surface and then he collapsed unexpectedly. It is a tragedy, but I don't believe that anyone is to blame."


Related links
Descriptions of some of the dives around St Abbs
Information about diving at St Abbs, including map
PADI - openwater qualification explained
HSE standards for diving instructors and commercial divers


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