Tragedy as young woman dies after getting caught in 'vortex' (2025)

Emily Sherwin, 20, who had a love of nature and the "sea world" went missing after she was caught in an underwater vortex diving off Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset

A student died while diving at sea after getting caught in an underwater vortex, an inquest has heard.

Emily Sherwin, from Poole, went missing off Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Ms Sherwin, 20, who was studying marine conservation at the University of Plymouth, had "loved" diving since completing her Padi qualification the previous summer, the Bournemouth hearing was told. Coroner Richard Middleton said that a search was launched for Ms Sherwin after she had become separated from her dive buddy, after getting caught in the underwater current.

He said that he was unable to provide a cause of death because Ms Sherwin's body had not been recovered, despite a search involving the Coastguard, police, RNLI and local boat-users.

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Middleton said: "Upon entry to the water, Ms Sherwin has got caught in a vortex, she became separated from her dive buddy and failed to return to the surface. An extensive search was launched by a number of agencies but Ms Sherwin could not be found."

Emily was invited out with her friend, Beth Pryor, on the dive, the day after Sherwin’s 20th birthday. Ms Pryor said in a statement that at a depth of about seven metres they were caught in an underwater vortex and spun around. She said: “We both went down below the surface and we were horizontal facing each other and we were holding each other’s arms.

“I signalled to Emily that something was wrong and pointed to my ears and gave her the signal to go back up. I did this two or three times. At this point we got caught in a vortex and started to spin around. I wasn’t able to check my dive computer due to the spinning. I just felt disorientated.

“We held each other’s arms and I signalled to go up but I did not see her do it back. Visibility was poor and I could only see about one metre. I could see Emily was vertical and not rising. At this point things get a bit hazy as it all happened so fast.

“She was vertical and her regulator was out of her mouth. She was sinking at the time and I attempted to reach down but that was not possible. At this point I could feel some water seeping into my mask.

“We hit the bottom of the seabed hard and I was unable to see Emily. I ascended to the surface quickly and spoke to the skipper, who signalled the mayday and then other boats and the rescue helicopter came to the area.”

Emily lived with her parents Charles, a dentist, and Ellen, a consultant oncologist, close to Poole harbour. Her mum said in a statement read to the hearing that her daughter had been "passionate" about nature.

She said: "She had loved her first year at university, enjoying both her course and the social life and was looking forward to sharing a house with friends. She had been active in the sailing society and enjoyed a university sailing holiday. She is outgoing and very social."

Ms Sherwin had started scuba diving in the summer of 2023 and "immediately loved it", her mother said.

She said: "She was passionate about the natural world, particularly the sea world, her hero was David Attenborough. She started diving a year before and immediately loved it. She described a deep sense of calm when under the sea, ironically she described it as a safe place."

And in a statement released through police after Ms Sherwin's disappearance, her family said: "We are heartbroken at the loss of Emily, but eternally grateful for the 20 wonderful years we had with her, and finding comfort in the fact that she was doing something she loved.

"Emily was unique: high spirited, outgoing, loving and loyal. She lit up every room. Emily adored the sea and loved sailing and diving. She was looking forward to an exciting career in marine conservation.

"We would like to thank all involved in the attempts to find Emily: the RNLI and coastguard teams, the police divers and all at Parkstone Yacht Club who took over 30 boats to join the search.

"The search operation was a testimony to the impact she had upon everyone she met and the love we all share for her. We will miss her forever."