This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/17/university-student-drowned-after-being-caught-in-underwater-vortex-off-dorset-coast
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Woman, 20, died after being caught in ‘vortex’ while diving off Dorset, inquest told | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Body of Emily Sherwin was never found after she was separated from her friend near Swanage | |
| A university student died after being caught in an “underwater vortex” while diving off the south coast of England, an inquest has heard. | A university student died after being caught in an “underwater vortex” while diving off the south coast of England, an inquest has heard. |
| Emily Sherwin, 20, who studied marine conservation, was diving off Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset, when she got caught in the current and became separated from her dive buddy. | Emily Sherwin, 20, who studied marine conservation, was diving off Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset, when she got caught in the current and became separated from her dive buddy. |
| She did not surface and a large air and sea search was launched but her body was not found, the inquest in Bournemouth heard on Thursday. | She did not surface and a large air and sea search was launched but her body was not found, the inquest in Bournemouth heard on Thursday. |
| Sherwin lived with her parents, Charles, a dentist, and Ellen, a consultant oncologist, close to Poole harbour in Dorset. | Sherwin lived with her parents, Charles, a dentist, and Ellen, a consultant oncologist, close to Poole harbour in Dorset. |
| She had just finished her first year at the University of Plymouth and was planning a placement in the Pacific for her third year. | She had just finished her first year at the University of Plymouth and was planning a placement in the Pacific for her third year. |
| She was invited out with her friend, Beth Pryor, on the dive on 23 July last year, the day after Sherwin’s 20th birthday. | She was invited out with her friend, Beth Pryor, on the dive on 23 July last year, the day after Sherwin’s 20th birthday. |
| The pair were part of a crew that went from Poole Quay to Old Harry Rocks and at about 5.50pm entered the water and descended. | The pair were part of a crew that went from Poole Quay to Old Harry Rocks and at about 5.50pm entered the water and descended. |
| Pryor said in a statement that at a depth of about 7 metres (23ft) they were caught in an underwater vortex and spun around. She said: “We both went down below the surface and we were horizontal facing each other and we were holding each other’s arms. | Pryor said in a statement that at a depth of about 7 metres (23ft) they were caught in an underwater vortex and spun around. She said: “We both went down below the surface and we were horizontal facing each other and we were holding each other’s arms. |
| “I signalled to Emily that something was wrong and pointed to my ears and gave her the signal to go back up. I did this two or three times. | “I signalled to Emily that something was wrong and pointed to my ears and gave her the signal to go back up. I did this two or three times. |
| “At this point we got caught in a vortex and started to spin around. I wasn’t able to check my dive computer due to the spinning. I just felt disorientated. | “At this point we got caught in a vortex and started to spin around. I wasn’t able to check my dive computer due to the spinning. I just felt disorientated. |
| “We held each other’s arms and I signalled to go up but I did not see her do it back. Visibility was poor and I could only see about one metre. I could see Emily was vertical and not rising. At this point things get a bit hazy as it all happened so fast. | “We held each other’s arms and I signalled to go up but I did not see her do it back. Visibility was poor and I could only see about one metre. I could see Emily was vertical and not rising. At this point things get a bit hazy as it all happened so fast. |
| “She was vertical and her regulator was out of her mouth. She was sinking at the time and I attempted to reach down but that was not possible. At this point I could feel some water seeping into my mask. | “She was vertical and her regulator was out of her mouth. She was sinking at the time and I attempted to reach down but that was not possible. At this point I could feel some water seeping into my mask. |
| “We hit the bottom of the seabed hard and I was unable to see Emily. I ascended to the surface quickly and spoke to the skipper, who signalled the mayday and then other boats and the rescue helicopter came to the area.” | “We hit the bottom of the seabed hard and I was unable to see Emily. I ascended to the surface quickly and spoke to the skipper, who signalled the mayday and then other boats and the rescue helicopter came to the area.” |
| Sherwin’s mother, Ellen, said: “She had loved her first year at university and was looking forward to returning to move in with her friends in September. She had been celebrating her birthday the night before. | Sherwin’s mother, Ellen, said: “She had loved her first year at university and was looking forward to returning to move in with her friends in September. She had been celebrating her birthday the night before. |
| “She was fit and healthy and passionate about the natural world and especially sea life. Her hero was David Attenborough. | “She was fit and healthy and passionate about the natural world and especially sea life. Her hero was David Attenborough. |
| “She started diving in 2023 and immediately loved it as she felt a sense of calm in the water. She described it as her safe space.” | “She started diving in 2023 and immediately loved it as she felt a sense of calm in the water. She described it as her safe space.” |
| The coroner Richard Middleton gave a narrative conclusion and said Sherwin’s cause of death remained unknown. | The coroner Richard Middleton gave a narrative conclusion and said Sherwin’s cause of death remained unknown. |