TRIBUTES have been pouring in for a Peter Tavy woman who died in a tragic diving accident and her husband who is recovering from decompression sickness.

Mary Restell, 54, and her husband Roy were diving at the National Diving and Activity Centre in Chepstow on Saturday, November 15 when she had to be pulled from the water during a training session — she died at the scene. Mr Restell was airlifted to a decompression unit at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Mrs Restell was chair of the Tavistock fundraising branch of the RNLI.

Branch committee member and past chairman Gareth Huxtable said: 'Mary was a very keen supporter of the RNLI and was an active member of the Tavistock branch, where she recently took on the role of chairman as well as continuing to also act as joint souvenir secretary with Roy, her husband.

'Her enthusiasm and energy for the lifeboats was inspiring and she will be greatly missed by both the committee and local supporters.'

Mr and Mrs Restell were said to be 'keen' members of Seasearch, an organisation that trains volunteer divers to map sea bed types and marine life.

Last week Chris Wood announced on the Seasearch Facebook page: 'I'm very sad to have to inform all Seasearchers that Mary and Roy Restell were involved in a tragic diving incident last weekend. They were both keen Seasearchers and a great asset to the team. Our thoughts are with Roy and both their families at this terrible time.'

Comments on the page included 'Mary was one of the friendliest divers I knew' and 'Terrible news, great couple'.

Mrs Restell's family have set up two JustGiving pages, raising money in her memory. One for the RNLI and one for DDRC Healthcare (previously the Diving Diseases Research Centre).

As the Times went to press a total of £777.69 had been raised between the two sites.

Among the tributes left by people donating, one said: 'A full life cut too short doing something she loved. My thoughts are with the Restell's family and friends.'

Another said: 'It has been my honour to know, spend time and dive with Mary and Roy and I know how hard they both worked to raise funds for the RNLI.

'It is therefore with veneration that I make a donation in memory of Mary.'