Police in West Iceland have revealed the cause of death of foreign traveller who died while snorkeling in Silfra earlier this month. The traveller, an American male in his 60s, drowned while snorkeling with other travellers at noon on Sunday February 12.
The reason for the drowning is not clear, according to the Police. A spokesman for the Police in South Iceland told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that it was not clear whether the mouthpiece fell out of the man's mouth, or whether water came down his snorkel tube, causing him to drown. The man was unconscious when he was pulled out of the water. The incidence is being investigated as an accident.
Read more: Park rangers want stricter rules at Silfra: poorly prepared divers, some barely know how to swim
The drowning was the fourth fatal accident in Silfra since 2010, in addition to six serious accidents where divers have fallen unconscious or been in grave and immediate danger. Park rangers have called for stricter rules on diving and snorkeling in the fissure. More than 50,000 people dive or snorkel in the fissure each year.
Police in West Iceland have revealed the cause of death of foreign traveller who died while snorkeling in Silfra earlier this month. The traveller, an American male in his 60s, drowned while snorkeling with other travellers at noon on Sunday February 12.
The reason for the drowning is not clear, according to the Police. A spokesman for the Police in South Iceland told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that it was not clear whether the mouthpiece fell out of the man's mouth, or whether water came down his snorkel tube, causing him to drown. The man was unconscious when he was pulled out of the water. The incidence is being investigated as an accident.
Read more: Park rangers want stricter rules at Silfra: poorly prepared divers, some barely know how to swim
The drowning was the fourth fatal accident in Silfra since 2010, in addition to six serious accidents where divers have fallen unconscious or been in grave and immediate danger. Park rangers have called for stricter rules on diving and snorkeling in the fissure. More than 50,000 people dive or snorkel in the fissure each year.
