Free diver drowns in Sydney

[DandyDon]

Free diver drowns in Sydney

A MAN’S body has been pulled from the water at Brighton-Le-Sands after he disappeared while diving, triggering a large-scale search.

Emergency services were called to Brighton Le Sands about 7pm last night after the free diver failed to resurface.

It is understood the man, aged in his 30s, was with his partner in the netted area near Brighton Bar, and she raised the alarm.

Sydney Water Police, lifesavers and a rescue helicopter scoured the area as hundreds of people lined the dock.

The man’s body was pulled from the water into a rescue boat about 8.30pm.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner, a NSW Police Force spokesman said.

 

[Spudlet]

seems strange as article saying free diver, that netted area is pretty shallow, just netted baths,

 

[Spudlet]

TV report it seems he may have been caught in the net

 

[clownfishsydney]

It is only a metre or two deep at the most I reckon. Could be he got caught in the net.

 

[John the Pom]

Possibly a journalist using "free diving" when they really just mean "snorkelling". People go snorkelling around the netted areas in the north of the harbour because you can see some interesting marine life around the nets, plus there are sea grass beds. You often see sea horses for example.

My wife & I once helped a woman who got into difficulty snorkelling in Little Manly Cove when she got fishing line caught around her fin and she started to panic a bit.

 

[clownfishsydney]

The man was the son of a local dive shop owner. He was apparently freediving. Nothing more has really come to light about it, even from a very detailed post from his mother (the shop owner) which mentioned briefly what his girlfriend saw. Most of the post was about the perceived lack of response/delay by rescue personnel and failure of Police to advise her immediately. His body was found by the mother's boyfriend who arrived with dive gear and searched despite Police opposition.

None of this would have affected the outcome as it was way too late for any chance of survival even if they arrived the second the girlfriend called for help. Very sad!