Town man named as diver who died

A DIVER who died off the coast of Anglesey earlier this month has been named.

Peter John Morgan, 64, of Burtles Road, Macclesfield, died on September 12 at a popular diving spot known as MV Segontium.

The inquest into his death, which was formally opened in Caernarfon on Thursday, September 23 by acting senior coroner Katie Sutherland, heard how Mr Morgan had been on a group diving excursion, but failed to resurface.

Officers from North Wales Police were called to the scene just before 3.30pm after a member of the group contacted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to say that Mr Morgan had not returned.

Following a search carried out by the RNLI Mr Morgan was recovered and taken to Treaddur Bay lifeboat station where he was pronounced dead at around 7pm.

A provisional cause of death indicated that Mr Morgan may have drowned as a result of a gas embolism – a bubble that becomes trapped in a blood vessel and blocks it.

It can happen if a scuba diver spends too long under water, surfaces too quickly or holds their breath as they come up.

Ms Sutherland said: “Peter John Morgan died on September 12 in the open waters at a diving spot off the coast of Anglesey known as MV Segontoum.

“He had been partaking in a leisurely diving exhibition when he failed to resurface.

“Following a search, the RNLI recovered a body and he was taken to Treaddur Bay lifeboat station. A post-mortem was carried out and a provisional cause of death was given as drowning due to cerebral and coronary air gas embolism due to barotrauma on ascent.”

The full inquest into Mr Morgan’s death has been adjourned while an investigation is carried out.