Diver dies in suspected medical episode under Port Noarlunga beach, frantic efforts to save him

A man has died at Port Noarlunga while scuba diving, with witnesses recounting the desperate bid to save him.

Fisherman Peter Nates saw the incident unfold and called triple zero. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

A scuba diver has died at Port Noarlunga after suffering what police believe to be a medical episode.

Emergency services were called to the Esplanade at the Port Noarlunga Jetty, just after 1.30pm after reports a person was pulled from the water unconscious.

Police said the 64-year-old diver was unable to be revived at the scene.

Emergency services at the scene after a diver drowned at Port Noarlunga Jetty . Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

Police divers at Port Noarlunga Jetty. Picture: Dean Martin

Fishers on the jetty noticed something was wrong and he was pulled from the water where he was provided CPR by paramedics at the scene.

However, they were unable to revive him and he sadly died.

Fisherman Peter Nates, who watched the incident unfold and called triple0, said he was speaking with the diver’s friend when he realised something was amiss.

“We were chatting for a while about the antique stuff that’s laying in the water from the early 1800s under the jetty. And I said, I haven’t seen any bubbles come up for a while.”

“He hadn’t move for a long period of time,” Mr Nates said.

“And I said to his mate he should go and see what’s going on.”

The diver was reportedly in shallow water about 1.5m deep.

“(The friend) tried to pull his yellow oxygen hose to lift him up off the bottom,” Mr Nates said.

“He was lying flat on the bottom alongside a pile of rocks.

“His friend was yelling call triple-0 so I ran down and called them.

Mr Nates said the diver had a metal detector and a weight belt to keep him from becoming too buoyant.

“So it would have taken him straight to the bottom,” he said.

Mr Nates said his friend had been unable to lift the diver and asked to get help.

A lady walking along the jetty leapt into the water and between the two of them they were able to drag him up onto the beach.

“The woman did CPR on him then a (off-duty) nurse then came running over and the two of them took turns giving the man CPR.

“Two police cars arrived within 10 minutes.

“Shortly after the ambulance came and they started working on him for a long period of time – I’d say 45 minutes.

“They had him on the drip and tried working on him, but eventually they just stopped.

The local fisherman said he hadn’t witnessed an incident like that before.

The police are preparing a report for the State Coroner following his death.