Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

APPENDIX B. DIVE FATALITY CASE REPORTS
down to the other divers. The decedent lost consciousness on the surface and could not be
resuscitated. The autopsy disclosed intravascular air in the blood vessels of the brain and heart
as well as pulmonary barotrauma. The dive computer showed several periods of rapid ascent.
The medical examiner certified the death as due to an air embolism.
04-24 Poorly conditioned diver, tobacco abuse, did solo dive, surfaced in distress and lost
consciousness
Cause of Death: Air Embolism due to Pulmonary Barotrauma
This 52-year-old male was a certified diver with an unknown amount of diving experience. The
diver was known to be a heavy smoker. He made a solo descent to approximately 40 fsw (12
msw) to check the anchor. The diver was noted to surface, waving his arms in distress. He then
lost consciousness and could not be resuscitated. The autopsy revealed large amounts of
intravascular gas as well as evidence of pulmonary barotrauma. Natural disease processes
included obesity, mild atherosclerosis of the aorta and pulmonary emphysema, a risk factor for
pulmonary barotrauma.
B.2 Proximate Cause: Drowning / Air Embolism
04-46 Inexperienced, obese diver on weight loss medication made solo shore dive, called
for help and lost consciousness, body found several hours later
Cause of Death: Drowning due to Air Embolism
This 48-year-old female received her open-water certification one month prior to her death and
she had minimal diving experience. She was overweight and used phentermine and fenfluramine
as a method to attempt weight loss. The diver made a shore entry solo dive and was collecting
shells and other items from the bottom. She did not wear a buoyancy compensator and did not
use a buoy or dive flag. She stayed in approximately 15 fsw (5 msw), making numerous
excursions to depth. The diver called out for help prior to losing consciousness. Her body was
recovered from the bottom three hours later. The autopsy disclosed changes associated with
drowning as well as gas in the large veins and the right side of the heart. The medical examiner
felt that the diver had suffered a venous gas embolism but this more likely represents an arterial
gas embolism based on the history. The intracardiac and intravenous gas likely represents a
postmortem change artifact.
04-54 Student in OW class on check out dive, performing towing skill, struggled and lost
consciousness
Cause of Death: Drowning due to Air Embolism
This 50-year-old male was a student in an initial open-water certification class completing his
fourth check-out dive. The dive was with an instructor and one other diver using a shore entry into
a lake. He was practicing rescue procedures and ascended from 15 ffw (5 mfw) prior to towing a
fellow diver as part of the training evolution. While towing the diver the decedent first began to
struggle a little and then lost consciousness. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. The
autopsy disclosed changes associated with drowning as well as intravascular gas. This was most
likely a drowning secondary to an air embolism.
72 Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition