Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

APPENDIX B. DIVE FATALITY CASE REPORTS
04-06 Experienced but infrequent diver in recertification course, multiple health problems
and medications, surfaced short of breath and lost consciousness
Cause of Death: Air Embolism due to Rapid Ascent
This 62-year-old male was reported to be an experienced diver but hadn’t been diving recently
and was participating in a recertification course. He had multiple medical problems, including
hypertension, coronary artery disease, abnormal heart rhythms, and depression. The diver took
several medications for these medical problems. He surfaced short of breath after a 40-minute
dive to 40 fsw (12 msw), and lost consciousness shortly thereafter. The body was embalmed prior
to the autopsy, which showed moderate coronary artery disease and a thickened left ventricle.
While this death was most likely due to an air embolism, a cardiac event cannot be excluded.
04-12 Inexperienced diver with multiple medical problems, trouble at beginning of dive,
became separated from buddy, panicked and surfaced unconscious
Cause of Death: Air Embolism due to Rapid Ascent from Panic
This 64-year-old male received his initial open-water certification one month earlier and had
completed five or six lifetime dives. He had a significant past medical history that included
hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, prior coronary artery bypass surgery, and a history of
prostate cancer. After some difficulties getting suited up, the diver made a slow descent and had
some trouble with his mask but eventually made it to a wreck, which was at 110 fsw (34 msw).
After 10 minutes on the bottom he and his buddy ascended to 80 fsw (24 msw) where they
became separated. The diver surfaced unconscious. An autopsy disclosed atherosclerosis of the
coronary arteries, the cerebral arteries, and the aorta and evidence of old myocardial infarcts.
The coronary grafts were patent. There was also intravascular gas and subcutaneous and
mediastinal emphysema. The cause of death was an air embolism.
04-25 Experienced, obese instructor and technical diver, on multiple medications, made
deep dive to wreck, panicked on ascent and missed decompression stops, lost
consciousness at 30 feet
Cause of Death: Air Embolism due to Rapid Ascent from Panic
This 42-year-old female was a very experienced dive instructor and technical diver. The diver was
on multiple medications, including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, an inhaler, medication for
high blood pressure, and numerous over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. She was
also obese. She and three other divers were making a dive to 205 ffw (63 mfw) in a freshwater
lake to examine a wreck. During the ascent phase of the dive, the decedent panicked and
skipped her decompression stops. She refused assistance from her dive buddies and lost
consciousness at approximately 30 ffw (9 mfw). She was taken to the surface by her dive buddy
but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Her buddy had omitted some decompression and
was treated in a hyperbaric chamber. The autopsy showed subcutaneous air and abundant
intravascular gas.
04-31 Obese diver with unknown experience, quickly ran out of air, assisted to surface
where he lost consciousness
Cause of Death: Air Embolism due to Rapid Ascent from Insufficient Air
This 47-year-old male received his initial open-water certification one year earlier but his diving
experience level is unknown. He was morbidly obese and took medication for hypertension. He
was with a group of four other divers, including the divemaster. The group entered the water from
a boat and descended to 33 fsw (10 msw). The decedent used nearly his entire tank within the
first 30 minutes of the dive. He declined using the divemaster’s alternate air source and he and
the divemaster surfaced. The diver was sent back to the boat and the divemaster went back
Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition 71