Dominic Edward Arthur HURLEY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 12 July 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Dominic Edward Arthur HURLEY aged 57. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21 October 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that:
On 8 July 2024 Dominic Hurley was undertaking a dive offshore on the HMS BROMPTON. Towards the end of the dive he became unwell and this led to a rapid uncontrolled ascent. On reaching the surface he was recovered to the diving boat but became unconscious shortly thereafter. CPR was commenced. An air ambulance took him to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment. Sadly he did not recover and he sadly died later that day.

On 8 July 2024 Dominic Hurley was undertaking a dive offshore on the HMS BROMPTON. Towards the end of the dive he became unwell and this led to a rapid uncontrolled ascent. On reaching the surface he was recovered to the diving boat but became unconscious shortly thereafter. CPR was commenced. An air ambulance took him to the Royal County Sussex Hospital in Brighton for treatment. Sadly he did not recover and he sadly died later that day.

In 2018 Mr Hurley suffered shortness of breath and pulmonary oedema during a dive in Malta. This led to him having a heart bypass on his return to the UK. There was significant family history of cardiac related issues.
Time passed but in 2021 and 2023 Mr Hurley sort to renew his diving licence. Mr Hurley completed his self declaration questionnaire. At no stage did he declare the events in 2018 in relation to his dive and nor did he discuss this with the Dr assessing him. It is likely that he Dr been aware of the previous diving incident a different course of action may have taken. There is currently too much reliance placed on the self declaration questionnaire without any further enquiry or access to previous medical history. This leads to a false sense of reality and put the diver and others at potential risk of death on further dives.