UK Public Inquest reported in British media
Updated on 07/01/2026 at 21:00 with official public record of inquest
On October 12, 2024, paramedics and an ambulance rushed to the Ċirkewwa Marine Park to the aid of a British 66 year old diver who encountered difficulties during a dive there. Despite the assistance that he was tendered on site by local instructors & first aiders who were present on site, and later by the medical teams, he was pronounced dead at Mater Dei hospital later that day. This diver was the 5th and last publicly reported diving fatality of the 2024 which was a particularly bad year in Maltese diving in terms of fatalities, possibly linked to increased diving tourism.
Unfortunately, as is normal due to the Maltese Court system, it’s unlikely we ever hear officially of the dynamic and causes of an accident in order to learn of any potential issues we might encounter ourselves as divers in the future. This leads sometimes to misinformation, speculation and hearsay information. Rarely, as in this case we actually get to hear further information.
Thanks to Cornwall Live, an online news portal from Cornwall, England, we are told additional information on this case which was picked up by our news monitoring system. The information is being reported from the public inquest which was held on 5 January 2026 in Truro, Cornwall.
According to the article, Darrel Nicholas Pascoe, a 66-year-old experienced dive master from Probus, Cornwall, was the individual who died during a diving holiday in Malta. He was exploring the P29 wreck at a depth of 30 meters. Just three minutes into the dive, he signaled to his buddy and made a rapid, direct ascent to the surface, bypassing necessary safety stops.
Cause of Death: The inquest concluded that he died from a diving-related pulmonary barotrauma (lung injury caused by pressure changes) resulting from the quick ascent. While he had an undiagnosed heart condition, the pathologist noted it likely played only a minor role.
Unknown Trigger: The exact reason for his sudden ascent remains unknown. Experts suggested several possibilities, including a medical episode, equipment malfunction, a panic attack, or—most likely—an inability to equalise pressure, which can cause excruciating pain.
Medical Context: According to the article, it was noted that Mr. Pascoe had not dived for 18 months prior to the trip and had not provided a medical certificate from his GP to the local diving company, which instead relied on his past diving experience and qualifications. [Here we note that as per Maltese Diving Regulations, the diver would be required to fill a medical self-assessment form (as annexed to the Subsidiary Legislation here). Unless certain conditions are declared, a diver is not required to present a medical certificate prior to be provided diving equipment rentals or services].
Conclusion: The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, stating that Mr. Pascoe died following a rapid ascent “for reasons unknown.” He was described as a fit and healthy man who was highly respected in the diving community.
divinginfo.mt extends condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Pascoe.
Updated on 07/01/2026 at 21:00
divinginfo.mt obtained from official sources a copy of the Record of Inquest. We have redacted some personal details of Mr Pascoe and his relatives for privacy. This official record states the medical cause of death and the known circumstances leading to his death.
For the survivors of such accidents, both directly or indirectly involved, we encourage them to make the best out of their life and seek help if needed at any time for both physical and mental ailments. For Maltese residents, we also recommend using the services of the NGO Richmond Foundation, who may be contacted via Olli.chat, a free online chat service or Helpline 1770 both run by same organisation.