HILARY Lyon died carrying out the hobby she loved. The 39-year-old mother of one got into difficulties during a 40 metre dive on a World War Two wreck off the coast of Orkney.

She died despite frantic attempts by friends and a doctor to revive her on board her charter diving boat.

Today, her sister Alison Lyon, from Belmont and the rest of her family are waiting for a post mortem examination before they will be allowed to bring her body home.

Mark Hall, Alison's partner, said Miss Lyon, a divorcee, from Egerton was devoted to diving.

He said: "It was her only real hobby. It was the love of her life.

"Her house was just full of diving equipment and magazines."

Miss Lyon had been a member of Bolton Sub-Aqua club for 15 years and had become so proficient that she was an instructor as well as club secretary.

A former Bolton School pupil Miss Lyon worked as an accountant for Manchester firm FFT.

Mr Hall said he had spoken to her colleagues since news broke of the tragedy.

"She was so well liked. They are just shocked and upset," he said.

"Hilary was quiet and reserved but with her diving colleagues she was probably bubbly and outgoing because that was what she liked to do best."

Throughout her life Miss Lyon loved action based activities and travelling.

She had walked in Australia, Machu Picchu in South America, been to Malta and regularly dived off the coast of Scotland. She was with members of Bolton Sub-Aqua Club on the last day of a week long diving holiday when she died.

She leaves her 15-year-old son Daniel, sister Alison and mum Audrey.

Police in Scotland are continuing their enquiries into the tragedy and they will submit a report on the death to the Procurator Fiscal in Kirkwall when complete.