Tributes to ‘hero’ freediver who drowned while trying to help another swimmer in Egypt
Dubliner Stephen Keenan died after he passed out while diving at a popular spot off the coast of Egypt at the weekend
A RECORD-breaking dive champion has drowned at a popular spot off the coast of Egypt while trying to help a fellow swimmer.
Stephen Keenan, of Dublin, has been described as a "hero" and “guardian angel” by pals following his death in the Red Sea at the weekend.
The 39-year-old died on Saturday while freediving at the Arch of the Dahab Blue Hole — a world-famous dive site.
It is understood he was providing safety cover for a female freediver who was attempting to dive the arch when he suffered an in-water blackout.
The Arch, a 26metre-long (85ft) tunnel in the Dahab Blue Hole at a depth of 56m (184ft), is considered challenging due to its depth and the requirement for distance swimming.
Stephen had been active in the freediving community since 2009.
He went on to co-own Dahab Freedivers — described as one of the world’s most dynamic freedive schools — as well as set a number of Irish National Records.
Stephen was a qualified instructor-trainer and had coached hundreds of divers in the Gulf of Aqaba, Spain, and the Philippines.
Sport insiders revealed he was best known for his role as Chief Of Safety for a number of the Vertical Blue Freediving Competitions, as well as regularly providing safety at freediving competitions across the world.