Dartmouth diver's death at Nova Scotia Power dam halts work
Paul's Diving Services diver lost touch with team at 1 p.m. on Wednesday
Work has stopped at Nova Scotia Power's Annapolis Tidal Power Plant while the Department of Labour tries to figure out how a 39-year-old man died during an underwater inspection on Wednesday.
The diver worked for Paul's Diving Services Inc., and was contracted to work for the utility. He lost touch with surface team at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Annapolis Royal Police Chief Burt McNeil says the man became "tangled up." A standby diver freed him and brought the man up, but he was declared dead about half an hour later.
The department says access to the scene is restricted while they try to determine what went wrong.
Occupational health and safety officers have interviewed a number of employees with the diving company, as well as Nova Scotia Power employees on scene.
No orders have been issued.
Labour Minister Kelly Regan said the investigation "will take some time."
Nova Scotia Power spokesman David Rodenhiser says the company is also conducting its own investigation.
"It's too early to say what happened," he wrote in an email. "The gates were closed but some amount of water always flows.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the diver, his family and friends."
An autopsy will be performed Thursday.