A man thought to be in his 50s has died while scuba diving near Tathra on Monday.
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The man, believed to be from Victoria, was unable to be revived after he got into difficulty while scuba diving at Kianinny Bay.
Police, paramedics, and surf lifesavers all responded to the incident, which occurred near Chamberlain Lookout shortly before 11am Monday, October 31.
While the clear water of the bay was calm by lunch time, conditions outside were reported to be rough earlier in the day.
Police tape spanned the road at the top of the hill at Kianinny St and interstate visitors on the hunt for whales paused at the lookout, watching the scene unfold.
It’s believed the man was diving out from Kianinny with a group. The circumstances that led to his death are at this stage unknown with investigations underway and a report to be prepared for the state Coroner.
Early reports indicated a scuba diver had gone missing before it was confirmed that a man had been pulled unconscious from the water.
It is understood that witnesses and emergency personnel on scene immediately began CPR treatment in a valiant attempt to save the scuba diver’s life, but unfortunately all efforts to revive the patient were unsuccessful.
After being alerted to the incident by police, the Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre tasked a Far South Coast duty officer and call-out team from Tathra Surf Life Saving Club to respond.
A Tathra SLSC spokesperson said three IRBs responded, but ultimately they were not required.
Monday’s incident is the third death in NSW coastal waters since July and is the seventh fatality involved a scuba diver or snorkeler in the past season.
In the 2015/16 season coastal drowning deaths involving participants in diving or snorkelling trailed only swimming and rock fishing as the most common activity being undertaken at the time of a fatality.
- with Alasdair McDonald and Ben Smyth
