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Teenager dies in diving accident
 The accident happend in the Sound of Kerrera, south Oban |
A teenager who was diving with an instructor and two companions has died in an accident off the west coast of Scotland.
The group - three trainees and their teacher - was on a training exercise in the Sound of Kerrera, south of Oban, when an underwater current led to difficulties.
 Oban Coastguard was involved in the operation |
Her two companions were rescued by other divers in the area and flown in a Royal Navy rescue helicopter to hospital at Oban.
The drama began shortly before an emergency call was made to Oban Coastguard at around 1030 GMT on Saturday.
Popular dive
The divers had travelled out by boat with five others near a well known dive training site - a vertical underwater cliff face which extends 40 metres below the surface of the water.
They entered the sea and made it to a depth of 27 meters when they got into difficulties.
The alarm was raised when only two of the divers broke the surface.
Charlie Charlton, of Oban Coastguard explained: "It seems that at 27 metres the instructor felt himself being pulled downwards and had begun to fin himself and the two trainees upwards.
"After a short while and checking his depth he discovered he was at 46 metres below the surface.
Inflated lifejacket
"He attempted to try and bring both divers to the surface and managed to inflate one of the trainee divers lifejacket.
"The second female was lost by this time.
"When the two divers broke the surface they were obviously in a poor way. Both divers had been given oxygen when they were landed."
Miss Brandrith was found under the surface. She was brought back to the dive boat where attempts were made to resuscitate her.
She was taken ashore where she was later pronounced dead.
It is not yet clear why the accident happened as the weather was good and the seas calm.
But it is believed the changing tide created a strong current which the divers got caught up in.
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