the drop weight to surface the bell. However, Prangley and Ward could not release the weight because it was externally secured to the bell frame with a set of "secondary locking pins". Because the bell was not equipped with a stage to keep the bottom hatch out of the mud, Prangley and Ward had no way to get out to release them. The bell was also not equipped with a strobe flasher to help rescue divers find it in the dark. In addition, the crew of the Canopus had removed the bell transponder some time before the dive. Recovery With a storm occurring on the surface, it took rescuers more than thirteen hours to recover the stricken bell to the deck of the Canopus. By that time, Ward had died of hypothermia and Prangley had drowned. Notes References See also Wildrake diving accident – similar fatal accident in 1979 Stena Seaspread diving accident – similar nonfatal accident in 1981 Accidental deaths in Scotland Commercial diving accidents History of the petroleum industry in the United Kingdom History of Shetland Maritime incidents in 1978 Maritime incidents in Scotland 1978 disasters in the United Kingdom 1978 in Scotland Oil and gas industry in Shetland