Diver missing off Donegal Coast

CharlieT

I drove back from Donegal this evening with my wife and daughter.

First, I would like to express my thanks for the condolences and kind thoughts Rebreather World members have posted on this website. I wasn't the organiser but he and two others of the 8 rebreather divers onboard dive/fishing boat Rosguill are RBW members.

I am very appreciative of the lack of speculation and I am sure that Paul's partner, Christine, his family and friends will also appreciate this.

There were four of us who dived on Monday to recover Paul's body but there was a huge amount of support from many local people including the Garda personel involved, one of whom was onboard that day, local fishermen who spent hours searching on the day Paul went missing, helicopter crews, Donald from the Mevagh Dive Centre and Kevin who was crewing on Rosguill on both days.

All the divers were involved with the recovery onto the boat in one role or another.

Michael McVeigh, the skipper of Rosguill, had no prior experience of a diving death but behaved superbly throughout an extremely difficult week. Professional, organised and a fantastic skipper and also very affected by the tragedy.

I met Paul for the 1st time on Saturday evening when we loaded our kit onto the boat and his kindness and good sense of humour made an immediate impression. We got on well on the way out to the divesite, the wreck of the Devonian in 80m, and I am very sad about his loss.

I hope that in due course either I or the organiser will be able to set out some of the facts but I am sure everyone understands that it is too soon right now.

We recovered his equipment as well and this will shortly be properly examined by an expert already appointed by the Garda.

Thank you

Charlie

Decodiver

Thank you Charlie for this update.

I think you have said all that needs to be said on this matter for the moment.

In view of that I am going to close this thread.

If anyone has something they feel particularly strongly about adding to this thread, PM me and I will give it consideration and open if necessary.

Kind regards,

Dave Cooper.
Administrator.