A 63-year-old scuba diver has reportedly died after getting into difficulty at Houton Pier, near Orphir, on the Scottish island of Orkney.
Emergency services were called to the pier shortly before 12 pm on Thursday, 28 August. The diver was rushed to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, but died shortly after arrival.
Orphir Pier is at the northwestern end of Scapa Flow, the body of water home to the remains of the scuttled German High Seas Fleet.
No information has been given regarding his activities prior to the incident, but local media reports the diver was ‘suffering from the condition known as “the bends”‘, indicating a possible case of decompression sickness or lung overexpansion injury.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: ‘Around 11.55 am on Thursday, August 28, we were called to a report of concern for a man in the water at Houton Pier, Orphir.
‘Emergency services attended and the 63-year-old was taken to Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, where died a short time later. His family is aware.
‘Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, however, the death it is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.’
