A FRENCH diver whose body was found near the Minquiers reef last year suffered a heart attack before drowning, an inquest has heard.
At the inquest into the death of 55-year-old Arnaud Chauvel, police coroner’s officer Andy Bisson read statements from Mr Chauvel’s partner, French and Jersey police, coastguard officials and the fishermen who found his body.
Mr Chauvel, who lived in Langueux, near St Brieuc, was reported missing on 25 March 2024 after failing to return from a dive near Mont-Saint-Michel.
French authorities launched a large-scale search involving the French Navy, police, coastguard, and air-rescue teams, but he was not found.
A week later, at 11.55am on 1 April, the crew of Jersey-based fishing vessel Ruby Roo spotted a body floating north of the Minquiers.
They circled three times before securing the body with a rope to prevent it drifting into nearby rocks, according to a statement read by Mr Berry.
The hearing was told that the fishing boat later retrieved the man, who was wearing a wetsuit and weights and carrying a diving knife.
His body was taken onto a lifeboat and transported to St Helier Harbour, where a paramedic formally pronounced him dead at 3.30pm.
A post-mortem examination found that Mr Chauvel had severe narrowing of the coronary arteries and signs of previous minor heart attacks.
Deputy Viscount Advocate Matt Berry told the inquest that Mr Chauvel had been at high risk of a heart attack, explaining that “emotional stress, cold water and exhaustion could trigger cardiac arrest”.
“The fact that he was in a high-risk environment away from help and assistance could have contributed to his demise,” he added.
Mr Chauvel’s long-term civil partner provided a statement, describing him as an active man with no known health concerns. She said he regularly walked, ran and went diving, and was used to being in the water.
A preliminary hearing to release Mr Chauvel’s body for his funeral was held on 30 March.
