HOLIDAYMAKERS have been issued an urgent warning over a common beach activity after a devastating death.
The coroner reviewing the case of Angela Kearns advised Brits to be wary of a particular piece of equipment amid "safety concerns".
Experience snorkeler Angela, 63, died after getting into difficulty while using a full-face Easybreath mask while swimming in Hurghad, Egypt in January 2020.
She had been diagnosed with hypertension – sustained high blood pressure – shortly before her death and Surrey coroner Caroline Topping ruled that the mask "contributed" to the tragedy.
Ms Topping wrote to the General Medical Council, National Trading Standards and Decathlon UK, the company that made the mask, to express her concerns over the safety of the product.
In her Prevention of Future Deaths report, she wrote: "The concern is that many million of the full-face masks have been sold and the safety concerns about their use by those with ongoing cardiovascular and respiratory issues has not been widely publicised or brought to the attention of those who already own the masks.
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"Those purchased before 2017 had no warning is relation to these matters and the warning included in the instructions from 2017 inwards was not prominent nor sufficient to alert prospective purchasers to the hazards of use which have now been identified."
The inquest had heard that Angela used the mask for five years before her death, but collapsed on the beach by the Red Sea and later died in hospital.
Ms Topping added: "She developed immersion pulmonary oedema. Hypertension, hormone replacement therapy and the use of the full face mask each more than minimally contributed to the death."
She explained that the mask increased "negative pressure" in Angela's lungs, leading to a build up of fluid.
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A medical report conducted for the inquest stated: "We strongly recommend to advise against wearing Easybreath masks to people who suffer from underlying cardio-respiratory conditions."
Furthermore, Ms Topping explained that, when the mask was made, there were no UK or European standard on its production, while Decathlon admitted that testing "did not replicate the conditions of the use of the mask by the general public".
The company has since updated its website to say: "It is not recommended to use this product if you have any ongoing respiratory or cardiovascular issues including but not limited to chest infection, asthma, high/raised blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease or angina etc.
"If you have any doubts or questions relating to this please check with your medical practitioner."
Ms Topping's report concluded: "In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken."
She demanded a response from the GMC, NTS and Decathlon by May 9, adding: "Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action.
"Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed."
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