Record-breaking Polish diver drowns in Ireland

Diver Artur Kozłowski

Artur Kozlowski descended at 3 pm on Monday, with enough oxygen to last over six hours. When he failed to resurface at 9.30 pm, his colleague sounded the alarm.

The diver's body was later discovered by members of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, some 850 metres from the entrance to cave, at a depth of 52 metres.

A plan has now been drawn up to recover the body, with the dive due to take place today.

Artur Kozlowski was a quantity surveyor who had been resident in Ireland since 2006.

He had been tutored by noted diver Martyn Parr, whose own record for navigating underground caves was trumped by the Pole in 2008.

In an interview with the Irish Times following one of his several successful record-breaking attempts, Kozlowski's revealed his passion for the sport.

“There are so few places on the planet where one is truly an explorer, that’s the motivation. It means we had to be totally self-sufficient, as there is no rescue – only recovery, if you are lucky,” he said, in an ominous allusion to his ultimate fate.

According to colleagues, Kozlowski had gone beyond his base oxygen supply on several occasions, but had always managed to endure owing to reserve supplies.

It is unclear at present whether loss of oxygen prompted the death. However, the salvage team has confirmed that all his equipment was present when they found the diver. A post mortem will be conducted when the body has been recovered. (nh/pg)

Source: PAP, Irish Times, Belfast Telegraph