Abandoned divers died on reef

Sydney - An Australian coroner brought formal manslaughter charges yesterday against the skipper of a boat that left two US divers…

Sydney - An Australian coroner brought formal manslaughter charges yesterday against the skipper of a boat that left two US divers stranded on the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns coroner Mr Noel Nunan, at an inquest into the disappearance of divers Thomas and Eileen Lonergan, said the two had drowned or been killed by sharks after being left at St Crispin Reef off north Queensland in late January. He formally charged the skipper, Mr Jack Nairn, with their unlawful killing.