Malaysian royalty dead - Pulau Perhentian

[DandyDon]

Member of Perak royal family drowns while diving off Pulau Perhentian | Malay Mail

BESUT, March 24 — A woman, believed to be a member of the Perak royal family, drowned while on a diving trip off Pulau Perhentian yesterday.

According to a source, the 61-year-old woman was confirmed dead by staff at the Pulau Perhentian Health Clinic after being brought there when she became unconscious.


The source said she had gone on the diving trip in Pasir Hantu bay and was at a depth of 19m with her dive mates at 4.15pm.

The source said her oxygen tank malfunctioned moments later and all of them headed to the surface.


At 15m, she gave the “OK” signal and continued with the dive but suddenly became weak, the source said, adding that her dive mates went to her aid to help her breathe but were unsuccessful.


Besut police chief Supt Mohd Zamri Mohd Rowi when contacted by Bernama confirmed receiving a report on the incident but declined to comment further. — Bernama

 

[Saldiac]

This link gives a bit more info:

62-Year-Old Perak Royalty Drowns While Diving In Pulau Perhentian

It also makes more sense to me since it states that "She had shown her dive mates an 'OK' sign at 15 metres, and continued diving deeper. However, at the depth of 19 metres, her oxygen tank reportedly malfunctioned before she drowned."

Apparently her son wants us to refrain from speculating:
"On behalf of my late mother, I will be taking over this (Facebook) account. I am Putera Mohamed Afiq, just to inform everybody including my fellow family members and friends, please don't speculate or make assumptions on the diving accident as a police report has been lodged," he said, according to New Straits Times.

 

[WeRtheOcean]

Nature, the great equalizer: royal blood does not get you any differential treatment from her.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

So was there bad air? I guess odds of that are low since there was already a malfunction. What are the odds of two things happening? Unless bad rental equipment.

Why would anyone continue a dive with a tank that already malfunctioned once? And why would you not stick close to others knowing you could run out of air any second if it happens again?

 

[Saldiac]

So was there bad air? I guess odds of that are low since there was already a malfunction. What are the odds of two things happening? Unless bad rental equipment.

Why would anyone continue a dive with a tank that already malfunctioned once? And why would you not stick close to others knowing you could run out of air any second if it happens again?

There's not much information and I doubt we'll ever get to know what exactly happened.
However, if you read the 2nd link, it seems that the order of events was mixed up in the 1st link. After the tank malfunctioned things seem to have escalated and ended up in worst possible outcome. The news article also states someone swam up to her to help her but sadly to no avail.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

There's not much information and I doubt we'll ever get to know what exactly happened.
However, if you read the 2nd link, it seems that the order of events was mixed up in the 1st link. After the tank malfunctioned things seem to have escalated and ended up in worst possible outcome. The news article also states someone swam up to her to help her but sadly to no avail.

Ah ok, thats very sad. Not ignoring a situation but something that others could not help with and the diver was not able to overcome. This is again a reason to be vigilant dive buddies.

I had a dive buddy last weekend in cold water in monterey that said he knew he used a lot of air and had an AL80 and I had a steel HP120. He told me he would go up earlier than me so i would have more bottom time and I told him there was no way I would let him leave in 5 foot viz in cold water. or even in warm water if it came up.

Anything can happen at any time.