A provisional charge of manslaughter by negligence was filed against a diving instructor and a skipper in the Pamplemousses court on Thursday morning, April 27. They were released on bail after paying a sum of Rs 10,000 and an IOU of Rs 25,000. These two professionals were arrested following the death of the German tourist, Christina Maria Angelika Diedrich, 60 years old by asphyxiation due to drowning on the morning of Wednesday, April 26 at Grand-Baie.
Christina Diedrich had been on a family vacation in Mauritius since Friday 21 April and was due to leave the country on Friday 5 May. On Wednesday, May 26, she had left by boat with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law for a diving session in the Coin de Mire area. At around 11:00 am, this woman who was a bank employee found herself in trouble. She was pulled out of the water from a depth of four meters by this diving instructor and taken to the National Coast Guard station in Grand Bay where she was given first aid. She was then transported to a clinic in Grand Bay. Unfortunately, the doctor on duty had to pronounce her dead.
The autopsy performed in the afternoon of the same day by Dr. Maxwell Monvoisin, Principal Police Medical Officer, attributed her death to asphyxia due to drowning.
An investigation was initiated on the circumstances of this tragedy. The investigation concluded that there was negligence on the part of the diving instructor and the skipper of the boat. The 35-year-old instructor, who works for a diving center and lives in the Pointe aux Sables area, and the 30-year-old skipper, who lives in Fond du Sac, gave their statements in this case on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 26. They both have valid licenses.
Released on parole, they had to go to the police station in Grand-Baie on the morning of Thursday, April 27, before being brought before the court in Pamplemousses.
