At approximately 1.00pm on Saturday 31 December 2011, St Helens Marine Police responded to a request for assistance at Binalong Bay regarding a male person experiencing difficulty whilst scuba diving in a gulch near Skeleton Bay.

When police arrived at the scene they found a member of the public had removed the male diver from the water, placed him on a rock shelf and with assistance from an onlooker, commenced CPR.

Those two members of the public continued CPR for approximately 20 minutes until the arrival of Tasmania Police. The two police officers immediately swam out to the rock shelf and rendered further assistance.

On the arrival of the Tasmania Ambulance Service, two paramedics continued to provide life saving assistance for a lengthy period of time.  Unfortunately the male was declared deceased at the scene.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter had been tasked to attend the area, and reached the Freycinet Peninsula before being stood down.

Tasmania Police have commenced an investigation for the Coroner.  There were a large number of persons present throughout the rescue, and witnesses are requested to contact St Helens Marine Police and provide details of their observations to assist the investigation.

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