Spanish navy diver dies on duty in Aceh

Spanish navy diver dies on duty in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: A Spanish naval diver died during a routine
underwater operation to inspect the hull of his ship, which is
helping relief efforts in Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh, his unit
said on Wednesday.

Sgt. First Class Justo Jesus Picallo Martinez, 36, died on
Tuesday while cleaning the underside of the ship Galicia,
anchored off Aceh province, the Spanish Engineers unit said in a
statement.

Martinez made a distress signal and sank after he and a fellow
diver had completed their work. Doctors failed to revive him on
board the Galicia.

An investigation has begun into the cause of death and an
airplane was being sent to Sumatra island to repatriate his
remains.

Spain is among more than 30 nations whose armed forces have
been active in Aceh to help with relief and reconstruction
efforts in the wake of the December 26 disaster that killed more
than 126,000 people in Indonesia. -- AFP