Inquest reveals an experienced diver drowned after heart problems

An inquest in Cardiff has heard how an experienced diver drowned after dropping his underwater camera and swimming deeper to find it. Stuart MacCormac, 53, was diving on a wreck off the Scottish coast when he got into difficulties.

The inquest heard that he found the camera but suffered sudden heart failure because of a medical condition he was unaware of.Other members of his scuba diving club brought him to the surface but he could not be revived.

A post mortem examination showed Stuart had a severely blocked artery. The inquest heard he had gone to see his GP in 2010 after suffering heart palpitations. He was advised to book an appointment for an electrocardiogram but the test was never carried out.

The court heard Stuart died from drowning as a result of cardiac dysrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat caused by his blocked artery.

Dive team member Mark Culwick, who led the search for him, said:

Deputy Cardiff Coroner Thomas Atherton recorded a narrative verdict saying:

Stuart's wife Denise, and their children Alexander, 28, Cameron, 26, and Elinor, 22, paid tribute to him.