Free diver drowned swimming back to shore - coroner

The Marlborough Sounds. File photo / NZ Herald

A free diver who drowned in the Marlborough Sounds on Christmas Day in 2011 is most likely to have accidently swallowed water as he swam back to shore, a coroner has found.

According to the finding of Palmerston North coroner Carla Na Nagara, released today, Brian James Watts and his family were staying at their bach at Te Awaiti Bay on Arapawa Island.

After Christmas lunch, Mr Watts had a rest before deciding he would go for a free dive in the bay.

After he was gone a couple of hours, Mr Watts' wife and daughter went down to the beach and saw him sitting on a small island 80 - 100m from shore and when they caught his attention he indicated he would swim back.

While still some distance from shore, near an area of heavy strands of bull kelp, Mr Watts started making what his wife described as "strange noises, choking and gurgling" and then he raised his arm and called for help.

His wife swam out to him while his daughter ran to get help from neighbours.

When his wife got to him Mr Watts was not moving and was face-down in the water.

A neighbour helped to drag him to shore and emergency services arrived and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation but he could not be revived.

Police initially thought Mr Watts may have become entangled in kelp, but Coroner Nagara said this could not be established.

The coroner said it was most likely he had inhaled or ingested water unintentionally, which led to a laryngeal spasm.

She noted comments in a police national dive squad investigation report that had he released his dive belt it would have greatly assisted.

The report also said that Mr Watts was diving alone, which meant there was no one immediately available to provide assistance and it recommended that free divers consider diving in pairs.

"I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Mr Watts' family and friends on their sad loss," Coroner Nagara said.