Inquest Finds Fatal Rapid Ascent but Leaves Key Questions Unanswered

A UK inquest has concluded that a British diver who died while diving off Ċirkewwa, Malta, in October 2024 succumbed to pulmonary barotrauma caused by a rapid ascent, but was unable to determine what triggered the sudden rise to the surface.

The hearing, held in Truro, Cornwall, examined the death of Darrel Pascoe, a 66-year-old diver who fell ill during a wreck dive at Ċirkewwa, one of Malta’s most popular shore diving sites. The assistant coroner recorded a narrative conclusion stating that the diver died following a rapid ascent “for reasons unknown”, bringing the UK investigation to a close without identifying a definitive cause for the emergency.

Medical evidence presented to the coroner

According to reporting that focused specifically on the inquest proceedings, including coverage summarised by DivingInfo.mt based on UK regional court reporting, the coroner accepted expert medical evidence that ruled out decompression sickness as the primary cause of death. Instead, the fatal mechanism was identified as pulmonary barotrauma, an injury caused when expanding air in the lungs cannot escape during ascent.

Consultant pathology evidence presented at the inquest also referenced a previously undiagnosed heart condition. However, the coroner was told this would likely have been a contributing or background factor rather than a direct trigger for the rapid ascent itself.

Possible explanations discussed during the hearing included a sudden medical episode, difficulties equalising pressure, panic, or a problem with equipment or buoyancy control. None of these possibilities could be confirmed on the available evidence, and the coroner made clear that the inquest could not establish why the ascent occurred.

Re-examining the original incident

As previously reported by The Scuba News in its original coverage of the incident, the diver became unwell shortly after entering the water at Ċirkewwa and surfaced rapidly before suffering cardiac arrest. Emergency services were called, and he was transported to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. That initial report focused on eyewitness accounts, local emergency response, and the launch of investigations by Maltese authorities following the fatality.

The inquest findings now provide clarity on the medical cause of death, while also confirming that the sequence of events described in early reports was broadly accurate. What remains unresolved is the underlying reason for the rapid ascent that ultimately proved fatal.

Wider implications for diver safety

While the inquest stopped short of identifying a single triggering factor, its conclusions highlight a recurring reality in diving fatalities. Even experienced divers can be vulnerable to sudden emergencies underwater, and rapid ascents remain one of the most dangerous scenarios in recreational and technical diving.

The coroner’s inability to pinpoint a cause serves as a reminder of the importance of conservative dive planning, honest medical disclosure, and regular fitness-to-dive assessments, particularly for divers returning to the water after a period of inactivity or with underlying health conditions.

For the wider diving community, the findings reinforce that not all incidents yield clear answers, but each investigation contributes to a better understanding of risk, prevention, and the limits of what post-incident analysis can determine.