Two Italian divers were found dead off the coast of Cornwall last week, their bodies recovered without the state-of-the-art equipment that might have saved them. A British coroner has now called for an urgent safety review, citing ‘avoidable’ failings in dive operations.
The victims, identified as Marco Rossi, 34, and Luca Bianchi, 29, were experienced technical divers on a commercial salvage operation. Their bodies were pulled from the wreck of a trawler at a depth of 50 metres. Initial reports suggest they were using rebreathers that were not fit for purpose. Sources close to the investigation confirm that the units were outdated and lacked integrated communication systems.
The coroner, Dr Helen Matthews of Plymouth, stated that ‘the absence of optimal gear directly contributed to the fatalities’. She has written to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency demanding a review of safety protocols for commercial diving. Her report, seen by this paper, highlights ‘systematic failures’ in equipment provision.
I’ve obtained documents that show the dive company, SeaTech Recovery Ltd, had been warned twice by inspectors about substandard gear. Yet the operation went ahead. The firm’s director, James Blackwood, declined to comment. His lawyer later issued a statement saying ‘all appropriate measures were taken’.
But the families of the dead men are not convinced. Rossi’s widow, Elena, told me from her home in Genoa: ‘They sent my husband down with second-hand junk. He deserved better.’ Bianchi’s brother, Antonio, echoed her anger: ‘This is not an accident. This is negligence.’
The coroner’s review will examine whether the divers were equipped with emergency bailout systems and cutting-edge dive computers. Industry standards recommend such gear for salvage at those depths. SeaTech apparently ignored the recommendations.
I’ve been digging into SeaTech’s records. The company has a history of cost-cutting. Last year, it settled a civil claim after a diver suffered decompression sickness. The payout was confidential. Blackwood’s previous venture, AquaLogistics, went into liquidation in 2019 owing £2 million to creditors.
The Health and Safety Executive has opened an investigation. But the coroner’s call for a wider review suggests deeper rot. This is not just about two dead men. It’s about an industry that puts profit before people. The bodies are in the morgue. The answers should be in Blackwood’s office.
