Diver dies in waters off Perth's north
A 40-year-old diver from the northern suburbs died after he got into trouble in waters off Burns Beach, north of Perth, this morning.
Water police and Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue were called to Burns Rock, about 1km off Burns Beach, about 7.25am.
Whitfords VRS commander Roger Howell said the man had been diving with a friend when the incident happened.
Mr Howell said the friend realised something was wrong and surfaced before he boarded their boat, called for help and set off a flare.
He said another boat attended and those onboard helped to get the unconscious man, who was not breathing, onto the boat.
Those on the boat administered CPR but the man did not respond.
Marine rescue volunteers arrived about 7.40am and took the man back to shore, where they were met by St John Ambulance.
“They did everything right – they went down in pairs and they had the right safety equipment,” Mr Howell said.
He said the man’s dive gear remained on the bottom of the ocean.
He did not know what had caused the problem, but suspected it was an equipment malfunction.
Burns Beach this morning. Picture: Phoebe Wearne/The West Australian
