Inquest into the Death of Jarrod Arthur HAMPTON

22y · Male·drowning secondary to incapacitation from air embolism

A 22-year-old skilled and experienced pearl shell drift diver with over 600 logged dives died from drowning secondary to air embolism and cerebral arterial gas embolism while diving for Paspaley Pearling Company off Broome, Western Australia. Following a rapid, uncontrolled ascent from approximately 30-35 minutes into his eighth dive, he surfaced twice and shouted for help before submerging and remaining underwater for at least 12 minutes until retrieved. The coroner found the cause of death was drowning secondary to incapacitation from air embolism. Critical deficiencies were identified: Paspaley lacked emergency procedures for diver retrieval and had failed to conduct rescue drills, resulting in chaotic retrieval once the diver was pulled to surface. While survival chances were remote given the 5-6 hour transport time to hyperbaric treatment, the absence of retrieval procedures and rescue diver protocols represented a failure to comply with Code of Practice requirements. Since his death, Paspaley has implemented comprehensive improvements including formal retrieval procedures, rescue diver training, modified equipment, and enhanced supervision of new divers.