A HOLIDAYMAKER has died after losing consciousness while diving near Lulworth.
The 52-year-old diver, who was with the Swanage-based dive boat Viper, was reported to have lapsed into unconsciousness on entering the water at around 12.30pm on Saturday.
Another Swanage dive boat, Skua, relayed the mayday call and the Weymouth RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard helicopter responded.
Attempts were made to resuscitate the diver, who was then taken to Dorset County Hospital and was later pronounced dead.
The dive boat returned to Swanage and was met by Coastguard rescue officers.
A police spokesman said: “We received a call at 1.20pm on Saturday to say that a man was being brought in from Swanage by the Coastguard and at the time was unconscious. Unfortunately the male died."
“He was a 52-year-old male from the Midlands on holiday in the Purbeck area and his next of kin have been informed.”
John Harvey, lifeboat operations manager in Weymouth, confirmed both the all weather and inshore RNLI lifeboats had both attended as they were already in the area training ahead of the Olympic period.
However, he said the crews had limited involvement in the incident.
Mr Harvey said: “Our involvement was pretty minimal, we responded but by the time we got there I understand the diver was being given CPR and was taken off by helicopter.”
