British dive grasp dies simply minutes into exploring Malta shipwreck in vacation tragedy
A British diving expert has tragically died only minutes into exploring the P29 ship wreck in Malta. A coroner has ruled the cause of his rapid ascent leading to his death remains unknown
A British dive master tragically lost his life mere minutes into exploring a shipwreck in Malta during a week-long holiday getaway in Malta.
Despite an inquest discovering the diver had an undiagnosed heart condition, a coroner has ruled the cause of his rapid ascent leading to his death remains unknown. Darrel Nicholas Pascoe was sadly declared dead after he ascended too quickly while diving during a holiday with his wife Sue. The tragic incident occurred on 12 October when the 66-year-old was diving around the popular P29 wreck off of the coast of Malta.
The Brit had been underwater for around three minutes with a diving partner, before indicating that he wished to resurface. An inquest held in Truro, Cornwall, heard Mr Pascoe, a seasoned diver, ascended straight to the surface, bypassing safety procedures designed to prevent “the bends”.
CPR was given to the 66-year-old diver while awaiting paramedics in a desperate attempt to save his life. Emergency services subsequently rushed Mr Pascoe to the Mater Dei Hospital in Msida.
The cause of death for the 66-year-old was identified as a fatal diving-related pulmonary barotrauma due to a too-rapid ascent. However it was not what is commonly referred to as decompression sickness, or the bends.
The bends is a specific type of barotrauma which occurs when gases, typically nitrogen, mix with body tissues and become trapped where they shouldn’t be. The inquest was unable to determine the exact reason why the dive master surfaced so quickly. It was also revealed Mr Pascoe hadn’t dived in 18 months prior to his death and had an undiagnosed heart condition.
Furthermore he did not provide a medical certificate from his GP confirming his fitness to dive, which was required. Mr Pascoe chose a diving school which didn’t require paperwork, accepting him based on his prior experience. Consultant pathologist Thomas Grigor with the Royal Cornwall Hospital, informed the inquest a medical test in Malta might not have detected Mr Pascoe’s undiagnosed heart condition.
The consultant pathologist also suggested the condition would likely have only played a minor role in the tragic incident. He explained to the hearing there could have been a multitude of reasons why the diver ascended rapidly to the surface. These reasons could range from a medical episode to equipment failure.
But he suggested the inability to equalise pressure at the bottom, which can result in severe head pain, was the most probable cause of his actions.
He told the inquest: “It is impossible to say if Mr Pascoe would have survived the incident if he didn’t have a pre-existing heart issue.”
Assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Guy Davies, stated Mr Pascoe had been healthy before his death and was an experienced diver. He said it was not possible to ascertain the reason why he ascended to the surface too quickly.
In his conclusion, Mr Davies said: “Mr Pascoe died from a diving related pulmonary barotrauma following a rapid ascent for reasons unknown.”
