Home church of British scuba diving victim calls for B.C. Coroners’ inquest

VICTORIA – The home church of a British man killed while scuba diving off the coast of Vancouver Island is calling on British Columbia to launch a coroner’s inquest into his death.

Kings Cross Methodist Church in London says an investigation into Timothy Chu’s death should happen both for the sake of public safety and for Victoria’s reputation as a prime tourism destination.

Chu was on vacation in B.C. when he hired a guide for a day of diving at a site known as Race Rocks near Victoria on July 5.

The 27-year-old British Army lance corporal was carried away by strong underwater tidal currents and his body didn’t surface for seven weeks.

Chu’s family says problems with the business that organized the charter dive may have contributed to his death.

His family says the centre failed to equip Chu properly, proceeded with the dive despite the dangerous conditions and employed a dive master who was unfamiliar with the area.