A CHAIN of events led to a policewoman drowning as she took part in a scuba-diving lesson at the Black Lion Leisure Centre in Gillingham, an inquest heard.

Swale police officer PC Jeanette Dennis, 49, of Baldwin Road, Minster, Sheppey, died at Medway Maritime Hospital on April 12.

The inquest was told how her GP, Dr Michael Rowe, signed a letter to say she was medically fit to take part in the course, run by Eauzone Scuba School Ltd at the leisure centre.

But PC Dennis Jeanette had not been issued with the guidelines by the school, informing students and the GPs of medical conditions which would prevent them from diving. PC Dennis had a history of high blood pressure, vomiting and panic attacks, which should have prevented her from taking part.

Dr Rowe did his own research by looking up guidelines on the British Sub-Aqua Club website which listed her conditions among those which might prevent someone from diving.

But her blood pressure had been stable for some time and Dr Rowe was happy with her emotional state. The letter, dated March 19, was given to diving instructor Kirsty Pickering the following day when PC Dennis attended her first lesson. PC Dennis ran into trouble on April 10 while taking part in a dry suit exercise.

Mrs Pickering was watching three students, including PC Dennis. She said: "The movements she was making were what I would expect. I looked at another student for 10 seconds and when I turned back to Jeannie I noticed she was without a regulator (mouthpiece).

"Her body was parallel to the bottom of the pool and her legs were in the air. I entered my redundant air source into her mouth and brought her to the surface."

At the poolside she was breathing and speaking. The top part of her dry suit was removed and oxygen administered on demand but then PC Dennis went in to respiratory arrest.

An ambulance was called and she was taken to intensive care where she died. Dr David Rouse, who performed the post mortem, found the lungs filled with fluid, and brain damage.

He told the inquest he believed water hitting the back of her vocal cords caused a reaction to effectively make her motionless while in the water but the fact she was able to breathe and talk when she was at the poolside indicated to him that she died from delayed or secondary drowning.

Verdict: misadventure.