An inquest in Cairns, Queensland, has heard that Thomas and Eileen Lonergan, the American tourists who vanished while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in January, may have been eaten by sharks. The couple, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were left behind by the dive boat M.V. Outer Edge at St Crispin Reef, 40 nautical miles from shore.
Two days passed before anyone realised they were missing. Their dive bag was found on the boat by skipper Jack Nairn, who told police: 'I looked in the bag and thought, Jesus Christ, it's got a wallet and papers in it.' A sea and air search found no trace of the couple.
In February, their scuba vests were found on a beach near Cooktown, 100 miles north of Port Douglas. In June, a diving slate washed ashore with a message: 'We have been abandoned ... by M.V. Outer Edge. Help!' The vests showed no signs of blood or tearing, casting doubt on the shark theory.
At the inquest, veteran diver Ben Cropp suggested tiger sharks may have attacked the Lonergans soon after the boat left. 'Tigers are very cautious sharks,' he said. 'They just circle and watch ... and then you don't have a hope.'
Police have received at least 25 reports of sightings of the couple over 1,000 miles away, from New South Wales to the Northern Territory. The coroner, Noel Nunan, said he expected counsel to seek manslaughter charges based on criminal negligence against the boat's owners.
