Finding into death of Logan Saminathan

39y · Male·Drowning

Logan Saminathan, a 39-year-old beginner scuba diver, drowned at Mornington Pier during an open water training dive. The precise underwater events remain unclear, but he surfaced unconscious without his mask. Expert analysis identified multiple contributing factors: adverse weather conditions (waves, cold water, strong surge), the instructor's failure to properly assess risk and cancel the unsuitable dive, absence of a formal emergency plan for rescuing unconscious divers, and possible hypothermia affecting the student's judgment. The instructor also drowned attempting rescue. Key clinical lessons include: inexperienced divers are vulnerable to panic and mask-removal reflexes in cold water; dive leaders must err on the side of caution with environmental risk assessment; formal emergency procedures with practiced protocols are essential; and proper equipment positioning on piers could improve rescue outcomes.