Devon diving school fined after student's death

Ally · 12-14-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

A Devon diving school have been fined thousands of pounds after pleading guilty to using potentially life-threatening equipment.

The Health and Safety Executive started investigating Jurassic Coast Diving after the death of a man on an expedition.

Tom Young went missing at sea while on a diving expedition to the wreck of First World War ship The Bretagne, nearly five miles off Hope's Nose, Torquay, in July 2005.

The 24-year-old, from Exmouth, got into difficulties with his air supply and, after surfacing, sank 28 metres to the seabed.

The diving school, based at Royal Avenue, Exmouth, was fined a total of £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,200 at Exeter Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The charges related to the care and maintenance of divers' life support equipment, as the HSE investigation revealed that breathing systems used by the company were assembled incorrectly and put divers' lives at risk.

A female instructor and student were also involved in the expedition where Mr Young died. They were winched aboard a rescue helicopter from HMS Bulwark, which was in the area, and flown to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital dive chamber for treatment for the bends.

HSE diving inspector Richard Martins said: "Breathing systems are crucial pieces of kit and divers' lives depend on their proper functioning."

"HSE is very concerned that recreational diving providers adequately maintain and service such equipment and we have undertaken targeted inspections to raise this issue with them.

"A recently published research report from the Health and Safety Laboratory highlighted this danger and should be recommended reading for all those involved in the diving industry.

"Trainee divers are particularly vulnerable as they cannot be expected to have the knowledge or experience to determine the effectiveness of rented diving equipment.

"It is in the interests of the whole diving community to protect new divers from faulty equipment.

"During the course of our investigation, we served a prohibition notice against the company, given failures discovered during forensic tests on diving equipment used by the company."

At the time of Mr Young's death, his mother Pauline and brother James said in a statement released through police: "Tom was a lovely lad and a fantastic son and brother. We can remember him growing up and turning into a confident young man who loved his family and friends deeply."

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