Scots airman fatality, 2 injured - Stoney Cove quarry, UK

[DandyDon]

Serving Scots airman dies while scuba diving in quarry - UK - Scotsman.com

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on Tuesday 18 December 2012 12:40

A YOUNG Scottish airman has died in a scuba diving accident while stationed at a frontline base in England.
• Calum Robertson posted to Norfolk after closure of RAF’s Moray base
• Aircraftsman praised for his “warmth and sincerity”
Senior Aircraftsman Calum Robertson, 23, who was originally from Banffshire, died on Sunday while diving at Stoney Cove, a flooded quarry in Leicestershire which is regularly used by scuba divers.
Two other divers were taken to hospital following the diving incident.
Mr Robertson was posted to RAF Marham in Norfolk in October last year following the closure of the Moray air base at RAF Kinloss. He worked as part of the engineering flight with IX(B) Squadron. He had been serving with the RAF since 2009.
A spokeswoman for RAF Marham paid tribute to the young serviceman.
She said: “It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of Senior Aircraftsman Calum Robertson, who died in a tragic accident. Calum was a quiet and unassuming character possessing warmth and sincerity that was felt by all those who came into contact with him.”
The spokeswoman continued: “He was an exceedingly popular airman, who always maintained a positive and highly focused outlook to life.
“His positivity was evident not only in a professional capacity as a tradesman interacting with engineering staff and aircrew, but with others through his passion for sub aqua diving and socialising with his friends and colleagues.”
Mr Robertson’s father Hamish lives in New Byth, near Turriff. He also leaves behind two brothers, Struan and Andrew.
A service of thanksgiving will be held at Moray Crematorium in Buckie on Friday.
An inquest into Mr Robertson’s tragic death has been opened and adjourned by the Leicester City and South Leicestershire Coroner’s Service.

 

[peterbj7]

No clues on what happened yet? I'm glad to say accidents there aren't common, but sadly they do happen occasionally. RIP the victim here.

A point for people who've never been there - Stoney Cove is not just "a flooded quarry regularly used by scuba divers", it is a long-established inland diving center, with superb facilities above and below water, several fast boats, and a recompression chamber. It is a highly reputable establishment which sees countless training courses, both rec and tec. It's fresh water, pretty cold, usually pretty murky, and 130ft deep (though by choosing your spot you can decide what depth bottom you'll be over).

 

[rivers]

No clues on what happened yet? I'm glad to say accidents there aren't common, but sadly they do happen occasionally. RIP the victim here.

A point for people who've never been there - Stoney Cove is not just "a flooded quarry regularly used by scuba divers", it is a long-established inland diving center, with superb facilities above and below water, several fast boats, and a recompression chamber. It is a highly reputable establishment which sees countless training courses, both rec and tec. It's fresh water, pretty cold, usually pretty murky, and 130ft deep (though by choosing your spot you can decide what depth bottom you'll be over).

Stoney no longer has a recompression chamber

 

[peterbj7]

Is that so? That's very retrograde step. I've seen it used several times, and I have no idea where the nearest now is.

 

[rivers]

I'm assuming it's probably funding related

 

[peterbj7]

The running costs of a chamber aren't especially high, and at any rate when I used to go there Stoney was one of the busiest dive sites I knew, and their charges were high. Funding would not have been a problem. But perhaps there's now one at a hospital nearby...?

If there's one dive site that needs hyperbaric facilities it's Stoney.

 

[TSandM]

Anybody hear anything more about this? I went and checked Yorkshire Divers last night, and I didn't see anything about it. Some of my internet friends are regular Stoney divers.

 

[rivers]

Anybody hear anything more about this? I went and checked Yorkshire Divers last night, and I didn't see anything about it. Some of my internet friends are regular Stoney divers.

If you're signed up with YD, there is a post in the incident forum, which you can only view as a member

 

[TSandM]

Ah -- I can't remember whether I'm signed up, but I didn't sign in when I checked the board last night. I didn't realize there were forums you couldn't see.

 

[rickgillyon]

I went and checked Yorkshire Divers last night, and I didn't see anything about it.

Very little detail about incidents on YD anyway, the Incidents forum is largely a waste of time.