Student diver lost at sea after underwater vortex incident off Dorset coast

A 20-year-old student tragically died after being caught in an underwater vortex while diving off Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, Dorset, an inquest has heard.

Emily Sherwin, from Poole, was reported missing on July 23, 2024, after becoming separated from her dive buddy during a recreational dive. Despite an extensive search involving the Coastguard, police, RNLI, and local boaters, her body was never recovered.

At an inquest held in Bournemouth, Coroner Richard Middleton recorded a narrative conclusion, stating that Ms Sherwin had likely been caught in a vortex shortly after entering the water and failed to return to the surface.

Emily, a marine conservation student at the University of Plymouth, had developed a love for diving after gaining her PADI qualification in 2023.

Her mother, Ellen Sherwin, described her daughter as passionate about the sea and the natural world, calling the ocean her "safe place."

In a statement released after her disappearance, the family said:

“We are heartbroken at the loss of Emily… but comforted that she was doing something she loved. She was high-spirited, outgoing, and lit up every room.”

Emily had dreams of a career in marine conservation and was active in her university’s sailing society.

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