A diver’s bid to break his own world record by spending 15 hours underwater was prematurely terminated after he went into hypothermic shock.

Sean McGahern, 38, entered St George’s Bay’s at 9pm on Saturday and was expected to emerge yesterday at around midday.

However the diver’s dry suit started  filling with water from the waist down. Mr McGahern communicated to the two support divers accompanying him and the decision was taken to haul him out of the water. According to the assistant director of World Record Diving Malta, Mr McGahern went into hypothermic shock as he was ascending.

“In fact, Sean doesn’t even remember how he was pulled out. I’d like take the opportunity to thank St John Rescue Corps for the amazing job they did,” Mikaela Papagiorcopulo told The Times.

Mr McGahern was taken to hospital where he was treated and subsequently given the all-clear.

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