A diving instructor in Argentina has been charged with manslaughter after a young tourist died in a scuba diving test.
Sofia Devries, a 23-year-old influencer, perished while diving off the coast of Punta Cuevas, in the country’s south, with her partner.
She was working towards an international diving certificate, a lifelong passion of hers, alongside seven other divers who were swimming near the wreck of the ship Hu Shun Yu, which has been transformed into an underwater park.
The group were being led by 26-year-old instructor Thiago Nahuel Pocovi, who has been charged with manslaughter following the February death of the young woman.
Prosecutors alleged that, amid ‘extremely reduced’ water visibility that ‘prevented direct supervision of the entire group’, Sofia and her partner Leonardo Alonso were ‘left without direct supervision’ when the group reached the seabed.
Local media reported that after a while, Sofia began to show signs of discomfort and removed her regulator.
During this time, her partner tried to assist her but she sadly ‘ran out of air.’
It took two days for her body to be found by Argentine Naval Prefecture at a depth of 20m (66ft).
Sofia Devries, a 23-year-old influencer, (pictured) perished while diving off the coast of Punta Cuevas
She was working towards an international diving certificate
Scuba diving was a lifelong passion of hers, local media reported
An autopsy concluded that the cause of Sofia’s death was by drowning with no signs of involvement by other people.
But the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Chubut accused Pocovi – a certified diver who worked for Freediving Patagonia – of taking actions that were ‘contrary to the protocols and safety standards that regulate the activity of diving instructors.’
In Argentina, manslaughter is an offence that can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.
On top of this, anyone found guilty of the offence is banned from holding public office for up to ten years.
Pocovi did not testify at a hearing held regarding the case while attending it remotely. Both he and the company are being investigated for potentially contributing to Sofia’s death.
Probes are still ongoing.
Sofia lived in Moreno, a western suburb of Buenos Aires. She held a degree in social communications and public relations from the Argentine University of Enterprise.
She was studying for a degree in business administration at the National Technological University at the time of her death.
Sofia lived in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital
It took two days for rescuers to find her body following the February incident
She had gone on the trip with her partner Leonardo Alonso
Her body was found more than 60ft below the surface of the water
She had published a book titled ‘Stories for Inquisitive Minds’, and worked in communications at her partner’s company.
Sofia shared photos and videos of her work as a makeup artist, as well as of her travels.
The woman, according to local media, was already practising scuba diving at a local club.
