The mystery of Eileen and Tom Lonergan, who disappeared on a scuba diving trip, leaving behind a chilling final message and clues

A COUPLE disappeared on a Great Barrier Reef diving trip, leaving behind only a bag and a chilling final message that has been revealed.

Tom Lonergan, 34, and his wife Eileen, 28, took a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef on January 25, 1998 after visiting Australia on the way home from vacations in Fiji and Tuvalu.

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The couple, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, went with 24 other passengers on a boat called the Outer Edge, commanded by Geoffrey “Jack” Nairn.

Outer Edge sailed about 37 miles offshore and then the diving began. Elieen was reportedly an experienced diver.

After the dive trip, a people count was taken and the boat returned.

A bag belonging to the couple was found on the boat two days later, prompting a widespread air and sea search that lasted for days.

The couple reportedly left a chilling message showing they were alive for at least a day, reports Lad Bible.

“To anyone [who] can help us: We were suspended on A[gin]Court Reef by MV Outer Edge Jan 25 ’98 3pm.

“Please help us [come] to save us before we die. Help!!!”

However, the couple was never seen again.

A month after her disappearance, a wetsuit Eileen’s size washed up on the North Queensland coast.

The wetsuit had tears that experts said were from contact with coral, the outlet reports.

The boat’s skipper, Nairn, has been charged with manslaughter.

He said he ordered a crew member to count the staff, but two passengers jumped into the sea halfway, complicating the numbers, the outlet reports.

Nairn was later found not guilty of manslaughter.

But his company pleaded guilty to negligence and went out of business.