A full inquest into the death of a diver trapped in a decompression chamber during a violent typhoon in the South China Seas started today seven years after the tragedy happened.

Former Bradford schoolboy Stephen Hardy was one of four men who died when Typhoon Fred hit a giant pipelaying barge which was connected to their chamber in August 1991.

The barge - called DB 29 - capsized in the storm and Mr Hardy's body was discovered off Hong Kong four days later.

A post-mortem examination in Hong Kong revealed he had died from drowning.

Father-of-five Mr Hardy, of Moor Lane, Gomersal, was an experienced diver, the inquest heard.

The other casualties were divers Terence Dennison, 46, of Hull, Brian Sheppard, 44, of Pembrokeshire, and electrician Leonard Barringer, 46, of Essex.

Coroner James Turnbull said: "On August 15, 1991 a barge capsized in the South China Seas. A number of people died as a result of that incident, including four British people who were returned to this country."

The inquest was opened in June 1993, but adjourned after the dead men's families objected to it going ahead.

They claimed evidence from the men's employers, McDermott International Incorporated, based in New Orleans, USA, was incomplete.

Today's inquest, which is being held in the old crown court at City Hall, is expected to last up to three weeks.

Mr Turnbull will be assisted during the inquest by nautical and diving experts.

He said: "DB 29 was owned by a Malaysian company, carrying out work for a consortium of oil companies in conjunction with the Chinese government.

"The vessel was used for off shore construction relating to oil and gas."

The barge was 128 metres long and 39 metres wide, with three cranes one of which could lift 2,500 tonnes.

It was also fitted with six winches and 14 anchors.

Mr Turnbull said the men were carrying out a pipeline connection.

The inquest continues.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.