Cumbria accident victim named

According to the Whitehaven News, Stewart Wright, 39, from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, died on 5 November at Wastwater, England's deepest lake situated in the Wasdale area of the Lake District.

It has emerged that the diver surfaced unaided. According to the report, diving colleagues on Wastwater's south-east shore saw him at the surface.

They thought they saw Wright struggle to gain the shore before losing consciousness. Other witnesses were under the impression that, upon surfacing, he did not move.

Rescuers brought Wright ashore but, despite their efforts and those of an air ambulance crew, he died before he could be transferred to hospital.

Wright, a member of Bury St Edmunds SAC, was described by club members as a very experienced, safety-conscious diver. He instructed at the club and was a rebreather diver.

The police are investigating the incident and an inquest has been opened and adjourned by Simon Ward, Deputy Coroner for North and West Cumbria.

The death came within a month of that of another diver at Wastwater.

On 11 October Wayne Rowbotham, 40, from Rosebank, Thornton-Cleveleys in Lancashire, died under water.

His body was recovered by police divers.

Related link
Lake victim remains anonymous