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An inquest has concluded that a scuba diver who died off the coast of County Donegal last summer suffered a fatal heart attack, but it was due to natural causes and not a diving-related incident.
Patrick Doran, 49, from Finisklin, Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, died on 22 June 2024 while taking part in a two-day diving event organised by Donegal Bay Sub Aqua Club. More than 100 divers were participating in the North West Dive Rally at the time.
The inquest was held at Letterkenny Courthouse on 12 December and was overseen by Donegal coroner Dr Denis McCauley.
Evidence heard at the inquest stated that emergency services were alerted shortly before 12.45pm to an incident at Teelin Pier, where two divers had exited the water. One man was reported to be unresponsive, while the second diver was receiving treatment for suspected decompression illness.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, including CPR, Doran was pronounced dead at 1.19pm by Dr Gerry Murray, who attended the scene. His dive buddy was later transferred to Galway University Hospital for further medical treatment.
The hearing was told that emergency responders, including Malin Head Coast Guard, Gardaí, National Ambulance Service personnel and a Rescue 118 helicopter crew, attended the incident.
Doran’s diving equipment was recovered by the Garda Sub Aqua Unit and examined by diving equipment specialist David James Gratton, who found no defects or faults that could have contributed to the incident. The coroner noted that Doran’s air supply and buddy arrangements were appropriate.
A post-mortem examination carried out at Sligo University Hospital found no external injuries or signs of diving-related trauma. Pathologist Dr Paul Hartel reported that Doran had severe coronary artery disease, described as ‘unusually advanced’ for a man of his age, and concluded that the cause of death was acute myocardial infarction.
Dr McCauley told the court that the dive itself was irrelevant to Doran’s death, stating that he ‘could have passed away while walking Errigal Mountain or walking along the road’. He recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
The coroner also noted that Doran’s death occurred during what he described as a ‘devastating six-week period’ in which three separate diving-related fatalities occurred off the Donegal coast.
Dr McCauley and Garda Sergeant Jim Collins extended their condolences to Doran’s wife, Siobhán, and to his family.
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