Off the wire
• Dollar trades a fraction under 111 yen line in early trade in Tokyo  • Xi, Abe have brief talk at Lima APEC: spokesman  • Nurses three times more likely to overdose than other medical professionals: Aussie study  • Aussie stocks stumble in early Monday trade  • China urges all parties to exercise restraint to end conflict in Myanmar  • Murray beats Djokovic to win ATP Finals title, secure year-end world No. 1  • French Ligue 1 results  • Leading goal scorers of French Ligue 1  • French Ligue 1 standings  • ATP World Tour Finals results  
You are here: 　 Home

Aussie authorities call for stricter snorkelling rules after six deaths in five days

Xinhua, November 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Australian authorities have called for tougher standards after six people died in snorkelling and scuba diving in the country in five days.

Graham Henderson, president of the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF), said that there was a concerning variation in dive course quality.

Henderson, who is based in Melbourne, said that medicals were needed for older divers before they were allowed into the water and Australian diving standards should be reviewed.

"To be honest some of the courses that are run... are pretty minimalistic," Henderson told the Guardian on Monday.

"The Australian standards need to be looked at and talked about more."

"Probably an age requirement to have a diving medical. That would be something that would be well worthwhile."

Henderson said that people were moving away from diving or snorkelling in large groups or clubs, which increased the risk of something going wrong.

A New South Wales man and Victorian man, both diving in their respective states with friends, were the fifth and sixth deaths in the week after experiencing problems.

A 49-year old man died while diving off the coast of the island-state on Saturday.

The remaining three deaths were all international tourists exploring the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

A 60-year old English man died while diving on the reef on Friday while French tourists Jacques Goron, 76, and Danielle Franck, 74, both had heart attacks within minutes of each other while snorkelling on Michaelmas Cay, north of Cairns, on Wednesday.

Cardiologists said that the two may have been stung by Irukandji jellyfish, jellyfish the size of a fingernail, which are one of the most venomous creatures in the world.

The AUF is the government-recognized body for amateur underwater activities in Australia. Endit