Teenage son of Diana’s lady-in-waiting died in free-diving tragedy
THE teenage son of Princess Diana’s lady-in-waiting may have been tired before drowning as he attempted a “free-dive”, a coroner heard.
Scuba instructor Henry Byatt, 19, died relying on breath-holding underwater on Zakynthos, Greece, in August 2017.
He was working as a scuba diving instructor for Peligoni Club on the Greece island of Zakynthos when he died in August 2017.
His mum, Diana’s pal Alexandra, acted as her lady-in-waiting from 1991 until 1997 and attended the hearing at Westminster coroner’s court.
Police have investigated the case extensively, but no criminal charges have been brought.
Senior Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said the teenager was ‘very unwise’ when he decided to undertake a ‘free dive’ while on a break from work.
She said: “It was a voluntary activity on his part although it was during his working day.
“By the time Henry was recovered it’s quite clear from the evidence he was already deceased.
Free diving is a type of underwater swimming that relies on breath-holding rather than using proper scuba diving equipment such as oxygen tanks.
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A memorial page was set up online to pay tribute to the former Eastbourne College student.
A statement from the East Sussex college said its community was “deeply saddened” by his death.
The full inquest will be in October.
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