A retired man originally from Edinburgh tragically passed away following a diving accident off the Devon coast. Neil Barker, aged 71, encountered difficulties while diving near Bigbury-on-Sea on May 31. After struggling to resurface, he was urgently transported to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead at 1:45 pm.
Mr. Barker, a married, retired quality manager who resided in Danbury, Chelmsford, had been enjoying a recreational dive when the incident occurred. According to Devon Live, Senior Coroner Philip Spinney reported that Neil was observed surfacing before submerging again, prompting the RNLI to respond swiftly. Despite efforts, he was later declared deceased at the hospital.
At a recent hearing at Exeter Coroner’s Court, the cause of death was identified as drowning. The coroner cited an insufficient supply of diluent gas required for both breathing and buoyancy, which was attributed to a user error in his rebreather diving equipment.
Chelmsford Scuba Diving Club, where Mr. Barker was a respected member, posted a heartfelt tribute to him on their Facebook page. “It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of our friend and fellow diver, Neil Barker,” read the statement. “Neil was an active and passionate diver who regularly joined us on dives. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
The club also requested respect for the ongoing investigation led by the coroner’s office, stating that members would not be commenting further on the incident. In closing, the club expressed their thoughts and prayers for Neil’s family, bidding him a final farewell, “RIP Neil, our friend and fellow diver.”
