THE BECHE-DE-MER season which opened last month has claimed a third life – a father of three – who lost his life in the sea off far west Shortland Islands last Tuesday.
The incident took place at the Sanai Island opposite Ballalae Airport, according to reports from our Gizo bureau.
This is the second incident to happen in Western province, following the first crocodile attack incident at the Roviana Lagoon last month. The second life was also claimed by a crocodile, in the Russell Islands, Central province.
According to reports reaching Solomon Star Gizo, the man was in the company of another diver when the father of the three met his fate.
Initial reports said that the father was diving while his children were holding their out trigger canoe.
The reports said that after he had surfaced, the diver instantly dropped down back to the bottom of the sea bed. He never came back up again.
“It was the white teeth beche-demer that attracted him. Still he was not satisfied from collecting the white teeth beche-de-mer after spotting other valuable species,” according to relatives.
The relatives said he came back up to the surface to catch his breath, but that was his last as he dropped back into the water without coming back up again.
After waiting for sometime without the father coming out of the water, the children notified the other diver, who managed to float the body back to the surface.
By then however he was gone.
Many islanders, villagers and relatives believe the man had simply run out of breath.
A sea cucumber diver from the Roviana in the Vona Vona Lagoon was also a victim of a crocodile attack while diving for sea cucumber in the area.
By ULUTAH GINA
Gizo News Bureau
