Portland Coastguard were alerted at 19:50 on 23 May 2001 on the VHF emergency Channel 16 by the dive boat 'Nancy Anne' which reported that a 51 year old male diver on board was unconscious and required immediate assistance.

The Portland Coastguard helicopter Rescue `Whiskey Bravo' was scrambled and just 13 minutes after the initial call was hovering above the dive boat. On board the vessel immediate first aid was being administered to the unconscious diver after his buddy had brought him to the surface after they had both been diving on the Peveril ledges some 20 metres below.

Sarah Etheridge, Watch Manager of Portland Coastguard said, "We made contact with the recompression chamber at Poole, and a dive doctor was immediately alerted to meet the helicopter. When the man who had been diving with Bournemouth BSAC Club was flown to the chamber the doctor redirected the man to the Poole General Hospital A&E department where he was declared to be dead on arrival.

" The weather has been exceptionally good today with very little wind and a flat, calm sea. We understand the man was an experienced diver with his club and we extend our every sympathy to his family and friends."