British Army diver sent to his death in suit condemned as 'dangerous'

[BladesRobinson]

Army diver sent to his death in suit condemned as 'dangerous'
January 25, 2007


The army sent a diver to his death in a suit they knew was faulty and then presented his widow with a bill for the ambulance, an inquest will hear.

Sgt Bxxx McLxxxxx, 34, who was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, drowned on a 2004 training exercise in Germany after his standard-issue apparatus, known as Saba, sprang a leak and his radio failed.

The case will fuel concerns that the armed forces are not properly equipped.

His widow, Exxxxx, from Kingston-on-Thames, told the Standard: "I hold the MoD wholly responsible for my husband's death."

Lawyers for Mrs McLxxxxx will reveal at Westminster coroner's court that the apparatus was condemned as antiquated and dangerous in a secret MoD inquiry in 2002.

The inquiry, by Commodore Rxxxxxx Pxxxx of the then Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, demanded that the Saba equipment be replaced.

But this did not happen for several years.

That inquiry was ordered after two other military divers drowned using Saba gear.

The MoD admitted liability for Sgt McLxxxxx's death last year.

The inquest into the case has been opened and adjourned four times before this weeks full hearing.

Part of the delay arose because the officers leading the exercise in which Sgt McLxxxxx died were court-martialled for manslaughter.

They were acquitted after the case collapsed.

Since liability has already been admitted, the coroner is expected to reach a narrative verdict.

The MoD has apologised for sending the ambulance bill.


THE ORIGINAL STORY, INCLUDING NAMES CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE AT:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23383075-details/Army+diver+sent+to+his+death+in+suit+condemned+as+'dangerous'/article.do

 

[DandyDon]

The MoD has apologised for sending the ambulance bill.

Well good for them....

I wonder about this "suit"...?

 

[BladesRobinson]

Soldier's widow left 'in limbo' by Army
By Sally Pook
Last Updated: 12:55am BST MAY 26, 2005


The widow of a soldier who died on a routine diving exercise 15 months ago criticised the Army yesterday for failing to tell her how her husband had lost his life.

Sgt Bxxx McLXxxxxx, 34, an advanced diver, was based in Osnabruck, Germany and was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when he died in the River Weser.

At a brief adjourned inquest hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court in London yesterday - the fourth such inconclusive hearing of its kind - Exxxxx McLXxxxxx, 36, said in a statement: "We have been denied the dignity of an early inquest into Bxxx's death.

"For me and my family this has intensified the grief and suffering of our loss and left us living in a kind of limbo."

She said she understood a court martial was due to take place in Germany. "Why a court martial is necessary we don't know but it can only imply some suspected wrongdoing on the part of the military," she added.

Her dismay was echoed by Dr Pxxx Kxxxxx, the Westminster coroner, who said he had already expressed his "disquiet" to the Army.

Col Hxxx Wxxxx-Exxxxxx, for the Army, told the hearing: "It is a very difficult technical case and expert advice has had to be sought to put it before the Attorney General.

"As soon as his view has been given then the Army Prosecuting Authority will know whether they are going to proceed with criminal charges or not."




ALSO, FOR FYI...
SABA = Swimmers' Air Breathing Apparatus

 

[String]

SABA is a scuba type equipment for single tank open circuit air diving to about 30m.

As for cause im not sure if "suit" may just be the result of ill informed press not understanding the equipment.
Although people do die from suits it would seem unlikely in this case.

 

[stangd1909]

Dam that sucks! If I can't believe they gave her an ambulance bill??

 

[FrogmanNick]

Army diver sent to his death in suit condemned as 'dangerous'
January 25, 2007


The army sent a diver to his death in a suit they knew was faulty and then presented his widow with a bill for the ambulance, an inquest will hear.

Sgt Bxxx McLxxxxx, 34, who was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, drowned on a 2004 training exercise in Germany after his standard-issue apparatus, known as Saba, sprang a leak and his radio failed.

The case will fuel concerns that the armed forces are not properly equipped.

His widow, Exxxxx, from Kingston-on-Thames, told the Standard: "I hold the MoD wholly responsible for my husband's death."

Lawyers for Mrs McLxxxxx will reveal at Westminster coroner's court that the apparatus was condemned as antiquated and dangerous in a secret MoD inquiry in 2002.

The inquiry, by Commodore Rxxxxxx Pxxxx of the then Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, demanded that the Saba equipment be replaced.

But this did not happen for several years.

That inquiry was ordered after two other military divers drowned using Saba gear.

The MoD admitted liability for Sgt McLxxxxx's death last year.

The inquest into the case has been opened and adjourned four times before this weeks full hearing.

Part of the delay arose because the officers leading the exercise in which Sgt McLxxxxx died were court-martialled for manslaughter.

They were acquitted after the case collapsed.

Since liability has already been admitted, the coroner is expected to reach a narrative verdict.

The MoD has apologised for sending the ambulance bill.


THE ORIGINAL STORY, INCLUDING NAMES CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE AT:

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Although this is an old story I have only joined the scuba board today.
Firstly my relationship with Billy was as his Army diving instructor.
Secondly, I was heavily involved with the aftermath of Billy’s death.
Billy had recently transferred from the Royal Engineers to the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
On the day of his death he was diving in ‘fast water’ the river Weser which flowed at around 4.2meters/second.
When Billy went through his Military diving course his drysuit (Avon dry bag) was fitted with a Suit Inflation Unit (SIU) & he practised ‘ditching’ his breathing apparatus DSSCCA in case of entanglement emergency’s.
On the day of Billy’s diving incident he had not practised fast water diving techniques for over 7 years & the drysuit had changed since his initial Army diving course.
His new drysuit was fitted with a direct feed hose which he had not been trained to ditch.
Also the underwater communications he was using had never been tested in fast water & the MoD trials were carried out in Portland Harbour by RN divers.
I was on site shortly after Billy had been pronounced dead & subsequently met his wife & family in Hameln & was asked to show them were Billy tragically died.
I was also called to the Court Marshal & gave evidence and stated the U/W comms was never tested in fast water.
Every year on 11 Nov I remember Billy, the diving suit was not the cause of his death but the lack of training in ditching drills with new equipment & the U/W comms we’re not fit for purpose.
Pre-dive ‘buddy checks’ BWRAF or BAR are so important & should never be missed.
RIP Billy the fish, gone to early but never forgotten….REspect!

 

[Fibonacci]

SABA is a scuba type equipment for single tank open circuit air diving to about 30m.

More info on SABA gear here

SABA - Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus | Northern Diver Military

The Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA STANDARD) is an open-circuit diving set consisting of a large main cylinder and a small, bailout cylinder. Both cylin...

www.ndiver-military.com