An inquest in Caernarfon has concluded that a scuba diver who went missing off the coast of Gwynedd last year drowned after his breathing mouthpiece became detached from his air supply.
According to BBC News, Imrich Magyer, aged 53, disappeared in late November 2024 while diving alone near the Llŷn Peninsula. His body was discovered around ten days later close to where he had last been seen.
Coroner Sarah Riley recorded a conclusion of misadventure, ruling that Mr Magyer’s death resulted from drowning after losing access to his air supply.
Equipment Concerns
Evidence presented at the hearing raised serious concerns about the condition and suitability of Mr Magyer’s dive equipment. Dr Brian Rodgers, a Home Office pathologist and qualified scuba diver, told the court that the kit used was “unsuitable for British waters” and “actually quite dangerous.”
He explained that the design of the breathing apparatus allowed the mouthpiece to be dislodged by sea currents, waves, or even the wake of a passing boat. The inquest heard that the mouthpiece had been repaired using cable ties and builder’s mastic, which likely contributed to its failure underwater.
Solo Dive and Circumstances
Originally from Slovakia but living near Warrington in Cheshire, Mr Magyer was an experienced hobby diver and keen underwater photographer. On 27 November 2024, he parked his car at Porth Ysgaden, near the village of Tudweiliog on the north side of the Llŷn Peninsula, before entering the water alone in a wetsuit.
Shortly afterward, his diving gear was seen floating upside down in the sea, prompting the alarm to be raised. Despite extensive searches, his body was not found until about ten days later, near the same stretch of coastline.
Coroner Riley noted that Mr Magyer had been diving solo without a buddy and had no backup air supply, both considered key safety measures in recreational diving.
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