Sodwana dive death ‘under the radar’
World renowned artist dies while scuba diving at Sodwana Bay
A WORLD-RENOWNED artist died in a scuba diving incident at Sodwana Bay on 21 February.
But while the passing of artist and meditation expert Meera Hashimoto was lamented in artistic circles across the globe, the matter has until now not received any attention in this country.
It is understood Meera and her long-time partner Svagito Liebermeister had successfully completed a dive the previous day.
However, she had barely entered the water on the fatal Tuesday when she died after an apparent problem relating to her breathing apparatus.
The incident was reported at the Mbazwana Police Station and her body was repatriated to Japan.
Writing on Facebook, Svagito said: ‘The one thing that eases my pain slightly is to feel the love that everyone has for my beloved Meera and the love she provoked in all of us.
‘It may take me years to get over this loss and I do not know right now if I ever will manage.
‘But now it is this moment. I read all your messages over and over again, so inexpressible beautiful as if for a moment we all became one.’
A ‘Global Life Celebration’, transmitted live, took place from Tokyo on 4 March.
Meera was born in Ishikawa, Japan, in 1947. She studied, from 1966–1969, at the Musashino Art University, Tokyo, and from 1970 started visiting European museums and then settled in Toledo, Spain.
She later also worked in Japan and India, and led creative art expression and meditation workshops all over the world, combining art, colour, flowers and music as therapy.
In her last interview (youtube), Meera had prophetically said: ‘Understanding that this life is a gift you step into death with a wondering heart. Because once you live your life so totally and intensely and with passion, you can die so peacefully and with laughter.’
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