The inquest into the death of an American dentist who died after diving off the Kent coast has been adjourned.

A hearing was scheduled for 10.30am today to look into the death of Dr Bruce Hottum, from New York.

He died on July 21, 2017 after collapsing following the scuba dive.

Emergency services were called to Ramsgate Lifeboat Station and transported Dr Hottum to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where he was pronounced dead.

Less than 24 hours later, a second man - French national Thierry Raibut, 43, - also died following a dive off Dover.

Although the two deaths are separate incidents, it is understood both men had been travelling on the same boat.

The inquest for Dr Hottum was due to take place at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, with a full day being set aside to hear the evidence.

But a mix up with dates and a missing witness has resulted in the hearing being adjourned.

A detective due to present a report understood the hearing to be scheduled for next month and therefore didn't have her evidence on her.

It was only because the detective was due to speak at another hearing today that she was at the Archbishop's Palace in the first place.

Another witness was also not present at the court.

Three officers from the Health and Safety Executive attended and were ready to give evidence.

Another witness, who was with Dr Hottum on the day of the dive, was scheduled to give evidence via video link from Washington State at 2pm today.

There was some debate as to whether the inquest could go ahead but in the end it was adjourned until later in the year.

Assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn said she was at a 'loss' as to understand why it couldn't go ahead as planned.

She said: "I'm pretty disappointed because this has been in the diary since April.

"I don't like pulling a full day's listing out of my court but think in the circumstances I will have to.

"I don't want to hear half the evidence; I think in fairness to the case I will hear it in one go.

"I will adjourn it."

The inquest into the death of Mr Raibut is scheduled to start on Monday at the same court. It will be held over five days in front of a jury.

A third man, Benjamin Moss from Faversham, disappeared between Walmer and St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe near Dover following a diving incident in March 2018.

Specialist police divers were drafted in to help search for the missing father-of-three, but they were later called off.

His wife, Rosie Moss, paid tribute to her husband, describing him as "compassionate, and kind and a gentleman in the truest sense".

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