Rottnest diver dies in hospital

A 39-year-old man suffering decompression sickness after diving off Rottnest Island has died.

The man, who has been scuba diving from a boat, was taken to the jetty by boat and airlifted to Fremantle Hospital where he was treated in the decompression chamber.

A police spokesman said the man died at Fremantle Hospital just after 9pm.

The man was one of three people to receive medical treatment after being involved in three separate diving incidents at Rottnest yesterday.

At 12.20pm a 40-year-old woman came to the surface in difficulty near Geordie Bay, was treated on the island at the nursing post and then flown to Fremantle by RAC Rescue helicopter. She was also treated in the decompression chamber.

A short time later a 66-year-old diver is believed to have come to the surface too quickly and received treatment at the nursing post.

The man was flown to the mainland by the RFDS.