Massachusetts Fatality

[DandyDon]

Gloucester, MA - Google Search

An 61-year-old diver from Western Massachusetts drowned this morning while on a multi-diver excursion off Gloucester's Eastern Point, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Essex County District Attorney's office confirmed today.

Belchertown resident Joseph Piemonte, diving off the 36-foot recreational dive boat Gauntlet carrying three crew members and three other divers, descended into the water and did not resurface in an appropriate time-frame, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Cindy Oldham at the Coast Guard's First District headquarters in Boston.

"They're not sure what happened," Oldham said. "He was an experienced diver."

Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, confirmed the identity of the drowning victim.

Oldham said the Gauntlet crew notified the Coast Guard of the problem about 8:30 a.m. She said the Coast Guard was ready to launch rescue aircraft from its air station on Cape Cod when the diver floated back to the surface, unresponsive and motionless.

The Coast Guard dispatched a life-saving boat from Station Gloucester, which met Gauntlet and escorted it back to the floating dock at Station Gloucester.

"The crew of the Gauntlet was performing CPR on the way in," Oldham said.

Gauntlet was met at Station Gloucester by local EMS units and the diver was pronounced dead, Oldham said.

Monahan said detectives assigned to the district attorney's office also responded to Station Gloucester today on report of the drowning.

Gloucester Police had declined to immediately release the name of the drowning victim, referring calls to the district attorney's office and the Coast Guard.

Gauntlet, home-ported at Glover Wharf Marina in Beverly, is the dive boat for the Beverly-based North Atlantic Dive Expeditions and was the boat involved in today's tragedy, Heather Knowles, a founder of the dive excursion company confirmed late this morning.

Knowles declined further comment.

Gloucester Harbormaster Jim Caulkett did not immediately return phone calls seeking information.

 

[wgw04024]

I wonder if they had dive buddies, or were scallop diving possibly. Condolences.

 

[skwirl]

I wonder if they had dive buddies, or were scallop diving possibly. Condolences.

According to Gauntlet's charter schedule they were scheduled to dive the wreck of the Romance yesterday morning. I don't know if they actually ended up diving there but either way it probably wasn't a scallop dive.

 

[kwinter]

The victim was an extremely experienced rebreather diver as well as ship's mate. He was a pleasure to dive with. Most rebreather fatalities are caused by user error. It would be surprising in this case, but certainly possible. RIP my friend.

 

[Jax]

This article gives the name as Peter Piemonte.

Belchertown man dies during scuba diving trip
Sunday, April 24th 2016, 10:23 am CDT

GLOUCESTER, (WGGB/WSHM) -

A man from Belchertown died Saturday morning off the coast of Gloucester during a scuba diving excursion trip he was on.

Peter Piemonte was 61-years-old.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office confirmed the news with us Sunday morning.

"I can confirm that Peter Piemonte, 61, of Belchertown drowned yesterday while scuba diving off of Gloucester," explained Carrie Kimball-Monahan, DA representative.

Piemonte was aboard 'The Gauntlet', a recreational type of a boat.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Cynthia Oldham told Western Mass News there were 3 crew members aboard and a total of 4 divers.

"He didn't resurface. When he did he was unresponsive," explained Oldham.

The Coast Guard was notified of the situation at about 8:30 a.m. and when they met up with the vessel they found crew members doing CPR.

"But he never recovered," added Oldham.

Piemonte was transported back to the Coast Guard station where he was pronounced dead.

The incident remains under investigation.
Belchertown man dies during scuba diving trip

 

[nadwidny]

Here is the latest and probably the best we will ever hear about what happened.

Diver killed in Gloucester was consumed by shipwreck exploration - The Boston Globe

And full disclosure, yes I know Peter and yes I consider him a friend and yes he is a great friend to many across this small world of diving. I will miss him.

 

[catone]

The victim was an extremely experienced rebreather diver

Is it known if he was on CC or on OC during his last dive?

 

[Jax]

Here is the latest and probably the best we will ever hear about what happened.

Diver killed in Gloucester was consumed by shipwreck exploration - The Boston Globe

And full disclosure, yes I know Peter and yes I consider him a friend and yes he is a great friend to many across this small world of diving. I will miss him.

Wow. My heart goes out to all of you. How incredibly tough on the team . . .

 

[decompression]

Here is the latest and probably the best we will ever hear about what happened.

Diver killed in Gloucester was consumed by shipwreck exploration - The Boston Globe

And full disclosure, yes I know Peter and yes I consider him a friend and yes he is a great friend to many across this small world of diving. I will miss him.

I'm sorry for your loss Brian, he was very well known and respected.

 

[iamrushman]

always sad for the diving community....sorry for your loss.