Inquest opens on diver who drowned off the Anglesey coast

Above: MV Segontium, off the coast of Anglesey

The inquest into his death, Peter John Morgan, 64, of Birtles Road, Macclesfield, was formally opened in Caernarfon on September 23 by acting senior coroner Katie Sutherland.

The coroner heard how Mr Morgan had been on a group diving excursion, at a popular diving spot known as MV Segontium, off the coast of Anglesey but failed to resurface.

A member of the group contacted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to say that Mr Morgan had not returned and officers from North Wales Police were called to the scene.

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

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, which can happen if a scuba diver spends too long underwater, surfaces too quickly or holds their breath as they come up

Is 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 whilst an investigation is carried out.