“What news, Susan?”
“In the paper. What happened.” She pokes me toward understanding but I have no idea what she’s—
Shit. Whatnews? I look at Mark. Is it the plane crash? Have they found the plane? Is it in the paper?
“Sorry, Susan. What’s in the paper?” I try to keep my voice steady.
“The accident. That poor young couple. I was saying it’s lucky you weren’t still out there, because I know you had an accident diving yourself a while ago and it’s such a dangerous sport. It’s lucky you weren’t out there too.”
Oh God. A couple. Are they okay?
“What exactly happened, Susan?” I signal to Mark to Google it.
“Er, let me think. Well, it was on Saturday the accident. I think I read it inThe Mail on Sundaythis morning. I’ve got it somewhere around here. I didn’t know you’d both be so interested. I mean, it’s terribly sad, of course. It is. Here, let me find it.” I hear her rustle around her paper-laden kitchen table as I look to Mark, his eyes now glued to the laptop screen.
He looks up at me—he’s got it, he’s found the story. He gestures to wrap it up with Susan. I hear her rustling and tutting at herself on the other end of the line.A muffled call of, “Graham, have you seen theMailanywhere?”
I can’t wait for this. “Susan, Susan? It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I can look it up later.”
“Oh. Oh, okay, love. Sorry about that. It’s awful, isn’t it? I forget you might have met them. I can’t recall the names but a young couple. Very sweet looking. There was a picture. Sad for the family. Yes, I was saying to Mark it’s so lucky you weren’t out there then. Very sad. But I don’t want to spoil your nice memories, it sounds like you both had such a lovely time. Bring up the photos at Christmas, will you? I’d love to see them all.”
“Yes, definitely. Will do.” There’s a natural pause and I grab it. “Look, Susan, I should go. Sorry, it’s just I’ve left some pasta on and Mark’s left the kitchen. Can Mark call you tomorrow?”
Mark raises an eyebrow regarding the pasta. I shrug,What else can I say?
“Of course, love, don’t let me keep you. Yes, tell him I’m around in the evening tomorrow. I’ve got bridge in the morning, so late afternoon. Lovely. Bye then, love.”
“Bye.” I hang up and explode.“Fuck!”
“Come and take a look.”
I plop down next to him on the sofa and we scan the articles in horror.
british couple killed in scuba-diving incident in bora bora,The Guardian.death in paradise,The Mail on Sunday.brits’ scuba death tragedy, theSun.
It’s not front-page stuff but most of the papers have covered it.
BRITS’ SCUBA DEATH TRAGEDY
A British couple drowns while scuba diving together in Bora Bora after panicking underwater and removing their breathing gear
A BRITISH couple has died in a tragic scuba-diving accident while on holiday in the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora this week.
Daniel, 35, & Sally Sharpe, 32, died after the accident off the luxury resort island of Bora Bora. The couple were diving together along with their hotel resort dive instructor in a world-renowned scuba spot in the South Pacific when the incident occurred.
According to eyewitnesses the couple panicked, removing their breathing gear while eighteen meters underwater at the Four Seasons dive site.
A police spokesperson for the island said the couple had swallowed mouthfuls of seawater, while an autopsy later showed their lungs were also filled with water.
There were no signs of foul play, a local news website reported.
The Medical Examiner’s Office examined the equipment worn by the couple and experts concluded there were no problems with any of the diveequipment but that both of the Brits’ primary air tanks were empty.
While their secondary tanks did have air, the Sharpes were unable to access them in their panicked state, authorities explained.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of Saturday, September 17, nine days into the tragic young couple’s planned two-week trip.
Problems began ten minutes into the half-hour dive, when Investex UK fund manager, Sally, noticed her oxygen gauge had swung into the red zone and signaled to the dive leader that she was out of air. It was at this stage, Conrado Tenaglia, 31, the resort’s dive instructor, tried to intervene. But it soon became apparent that Sally’s husband, Daniel Sharpe, was also experiencing trouble. The instructor was unable to assist both divers simultaneously, and panic quickly took hold as the couple, realizing the desperate situation unfolding, fumbled with their own equipment. Eyewitness accounts from other dive group members state that “things escalated fast.” According to fellow diver Kazia Vesely, 29, at some point the masks of both divers came completely off because “they were struggling,” which may have caused both to panic further. The instructor tried to rectify the situation but it quickly spiraled out of control.
