A deadly mix of inexperience, the wrong gear and significant drug use led to the drowning of a 38-year-old man while free diving off Tasmania’s north-east coast last year, a coroner has found.
Marc Edward Hay died sometime between February 12 and 13 while diving near The Gardens, according to Coroner Simon Cooper.
The investigation found Hay was “not an experienced diver” and was likely looking for crayfish and possibly abalone without the correct licences.
Toxicology tests showed Hay had high levels of cannabis, methylamphetamine and MDMA in his system at the time of his death.
“The presence of those drugs undoubtedly contributed to his death by drowning,” Coroner Cooper stated in his findings.
The coroner also identified issues with Hay’s diving equipment. His weight belt was too heavy for the wetsuit he was wearing, making it harder for him to stay buoyant and return to the surface.
Hay was free diving with fins, a wetsuit, weight belt, face mask and snorkel, but without any scuba gear, when he got into trouble.
An autopsy revealed signs of myocardial fibrosis or scarring of the heart muscle, which “probably contributed to his death” as well.
Coroner Cooper said no formal recommendations were needed, noting the circumstances didn’t call for changes to diving regulations.
“It hardly needs to be said that diving (or indeed swimming) after ingesting considerable amounts of illicit drugs is an inherently dangerous activity,” he said.
