Diver killed by prop - New Zealand

[DandyDon]

Diver dies after boat hits - national | Stuff.co.nz

A diver has died after being hit by a boat propeller in Northland tonight.
Police say the man was struck by a commercial boat after he had surfaced near the Poor Knights Islands.
He was taken on board bleeding, with serious facial injuries, but still conscious. However, he died soon after.
Coastguard northern operations manager Ray Burge said volunteer coastguard from Tutukaka were first on the scene and tried to resusitate the diver.
Emergency services were told of the accident at 7pm. The Northland rescue helicopter also responded but the man died before they arrived.
The coastguard rescue boat was now escorting the boat with the diver to Tutukaka where it will be met by officers.
Police will investigate on behalf of the coroner.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Very sad. There has been a lot of diving deaths in NZ in the past month or so.

 

[Bert van den Berg]

Yes, very sad. Bruce was my friend.

This was not so much a diving death as a boating accident.

Bert

 

[scububa]

Gosh what a nightmare. That risk is one the really scares me.

 

[Pixelator]

Yes, very sad. Bruce was my friend.

This was not so much a diving death as a boating accident.

Bert

Sorry for the loss. Godspeed to the diver and prayers for the family.

 

[Frosty]

This one is far too close to home for me.I was invited on that dive trip.He was a member of the dive club I belong to.

 

[Redshift]

Does anyone know how this happened?

 

[NZ_Diver]

I have heard rumours of the diver being in the water at the wrong time potentially due to a miscommunication with the crew. But that was only a rumour.

 

[Bert van den Berg]

The diver's name was Bruce Porter. He was a well liked member of the Western Underwater Dive Club and known to be a safe diver. The WUDC hired the boat and just under a dozen WUDC members were on board. I was not one of them but have spoke to most of those that were.

The group had just finished their third and last dive of the day at the Poor Knights, a very well known dive spot East of the North Island of New Zealand. Bruce was the last diver in the water. Again, I was not there but understand that the boat's anchor was stuck and Bruce agreed to check it out. The anchor came loose and this is where it all unraveled. The incident is under investigation and the traumatized WUDC members are reluctant to say anything publicly that might prejudice the investigation.

We are going to have to wait for the results and this can take quite some time.