Drama teacher Kelda,36 dies on dive in quarry
Teacher and mum of one, 36, dies in latest incident at site
Tributes to popular teacher after police frogmen recover her body from murky depths at notorious disused site.
A DRAMA teacher died while scuba diving at a notorious disused quarry.
Kelda Henderson’s body was recovered by police frogmen from the water at Prestonhill Quarry in Inverkeithing, Fife, yesterday morning.
The 36-year-old had been diving at the site with friends on Sunday evening when she failed to surface and the alarm was raised at around 10pm.
A major rescue mission was launched which saw police, fire and crews and HM Coastguard race to the scene.
A source told how a male companion tried in vain to reach experienced diver Kelda in the 30ft deep quarry.
They said: “The man that was with her desperately tried to get to her in the water but he couldn’t reach her.
“He called the emergency services straight away but it was clear that something had gone very wrong.”
The mum of one worked as a drama teacher at the exclusive George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh.
Principal Cameron Wyllie yesterday paid tribute to the popular member of staff.
He said: “Ms Henderson was an immensely talented, compassionate and vibrant person who loved teaching drama. She inspired a love of her subject in many young people over the years. Those of us at school are very shocked.”
Police said the tragic death was being treated as “unexplained”.
Inspector Ian Stephen said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with Kelda’s family and friends as they come to terms with this terrible loss.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The latest tragedy follows two previous deaths at the flooded quarry.
Cameron Lancaster, 18, who was from nearby Burntisland, died in August 2014 after jumping into the quarry as part of an “ice-bucket challenge”.
In June 2015, John McKay, 18, also drowned at the quarry.
Security fences were erected in the wake of the two tragedies but were badly vandalised by youths within days of going up.
The water is littered with debris from fly tippers including wire cabling and at least two cars.
Locals have called for the quarry to be drained and filled in to avoid any more deaths.
SNP councillor Alice McGarry said businesses were working on a scheme to set up a supervised diving centre at the site.
She said: “The quarry has been acquired in last few weeks by a local consortium, Prestonhill Developments, who intend to lodge a planning application for houses on part of the land adjacent to the quarry and the coastal path.
“They are also actively working with diving clubs to establish a diving centre in the quarry pond. This will be a controlled dive centre.
“In the meantime, the police continue to patrol the quarry area regularly and fencing has been renewed along the top of the cliff.”
Prestonhill is popular with scuba divers from across Scotland who regularly train at the site.
A diving club, Forth Diver Training, last year announced plans to provide training courses at the quarry as well as improving water safety awareness.
A report into Kelda’s death will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.