A second investigation has been launched into the scuba diving accident that claimed the life of a Ballintra woman Elaine Morrow.
Australian workplace, health and safety officials have now joined Mackay Police in Queensland in investigating the circumstances into the death last Monday.
The former Colaiste Cholmcille pupil, who went to Australia in January, was on a three-day chartered boat trip with friends in North Queensland when she joined 12 other tourists on a scuba diving expedition off the popular Whitsunday Islands last weekend.
It’s believed that first-time diver Ms Morrow became separated from the diving instructor. Her body was found on the ocean floor after she failed to surface with the others around 4pm.
Witnesses at the scene and medics in hospital failed to revive her despite frantic efforts at CPR.
A postmortem was conducted on her body on Wednesday but the results are not expected to be released until early next week, Mackay Police said.
But they did reveal that the tour operator which chartered the cruise boat, Summertime, is under investigation.
Whitsunday Sailing Adventures and Tourism, however, claims that “all of our tours are operated to the highest safety standards”.
In a statement issued to a the Mackay Daily Mercury newspaper, the company’s CEO Peter O’Reilly said it was fully co-operating with the investigations into the accident.
“Queensland has some of the strictest diving guidelines in the world and is therefore one of the safest regions to scuba dive in the world,” he said.
“However, diving is an adventure activity and as such there are some inherent risks. Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of the young lady,” he said.
It has also been revealed that Elaine’s death, occurred on the second anniversary of the death of her grandfather, Victor Barnes (80).
Three friends from Ballintra who are still in Australia are helping the Morrow family to make arrangements for the return of Elaine’s body to Ireland.
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