A KENT policewoman has lost her fight for life following a scuba-diving accident at a sports centre.

PC Jean Dennis, who was based at Sheppey, died in the intensive care unit at Medway Maritime Hospital at the weekend two days after the accident at the Black Lion Leisure Centre at Gillingham.

PC Dennis, 49, had to be pulled from the pool and resuscitated during a scuba-diving session which was being run by a club based outside Medway. A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Her colleagues are obviously devastated. We are investigating to find out exactly what happened."

PC Dennis, who was known as Jeannie, had been a policewoman for 12 years and was a mother of grown-up children. She was based at Sheerness. From February 1991 to January 1994 she was a section patrol officer at Rochester.

The Black Lion Leisure Centre is run by contractor Serco on behalf of Medway Council. Both the council and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the tragedy.

PC Dennis was one of two community officers in Sheppey tackling the issues of youth crime on the island, patrolling the streets of Queenborough, Halfway, Rushenden and Minster.