Asia Dive News : British tourist dies after dive off Koh Samui

Surat Thani - A British man died and his diving mate was injured during a diving expedition near the Erawan oil rig south of Koh Samui on Tuesday. A marine rescue team went to the oil rig to rescue the divers and their group, underwater treasure sightseers.

The body of Frederick William, 51, was retrieved and returned on a yacht which arrived at Koh Samui yesterday morning, together with five other divers and six crew.

Theerawat Namsrithan, Koh Samui tourist police chief, said nine tourists from Britain chartered the yacht from Koh Tao to the Erawan oil rig. They had set off to explore an ancient shipwreck dating back to the early Rattanakosin era.

Two of the diving team, William and his diving mate Paul Wilson, 30, went missing during the dive. They were later found floating unconscious on the surface and rushed to the Erawan rig platform for treatment. William died on the way.

Pol Lt-Col Theerawat said the two men apparently surfaced too quickly.

Chanchote Piriyasathit, chairman of Koh Phangan tourist business association, said the divers may have experienced decompression sickness caused by an abrupt change of water pressure from surfacing too fast.

William's body was transferred to Koh Samui hospital for autopsy.

Source: Bangkok Post