Snorkelling scientist dies in leopard seal attack

Snorkelling scientist dies in leopard seal attack

25.07.2003

By STEVE CONNOR

A female scientist snorkelling off the coast of Antarctica has been attacked and killed by a leopard seal.

Kirsty Brown, 28, is believed to have drowned as the seal struck her without warning and dragged her underwater, causing her to lose her air supply for a few vital minutes.

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said colleagues watching from the shore immediately launched a rescue boat, but efforts to resuscitate the marine biologist failed...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm...ubsection=world

Extremely tragic news. She used to be a student here at SOC, where I work. Quite a few of my good friends have dived with BAS (when doing fieldwork down south) and they are very careful on all safety issues. A very sad accident.