Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

APPENDIX B. DIVE FATALITY CASE REPORTS
04-85 Diver with unknown certification and experienced, had equipment trouble, panicked
and made a rapid ascent
Cause of Death: Drowning due to Air Embolism due to Rapid Ascent
The certification status and experience of this 57-year-old female is unknown. She was making a
dive to 90 fsw (30 msw) with a buddy when she had trouble with her mask and regulator. The
decedent panicked and made a rapid ascent. Her buddy tried to render aid and ended up
sustaining decompression sickness. The decedent lost consciousness after the ascent and was
pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy was not performed but this appears to be a
drowning due an air embolism caused by a rapid ascent.
04-33 Experienced, but obese technical diver and instructor on spearfishing wreck dive
using trimix, lost consciousness at depth and had seizures entire way to surface
Cause of Death: Drowning due to Seizure due to Air Embolism
This 50-year-old male was a very experienced technical diver and instructor. His only known
medical problem was obesity. The diver made a wreck dive using trimix for the purpose of
spearfishing. The original descent was to 192 fsw (60 msw). The diver then ascended to 80 fsw
(24 msw) before heading back down to 150 fsw (46 msw). At that point he suffered a witnessed
loss of consciousness and began to seize. The diver seized the entire time he was assisted to the
surface, where he died. The autopsy disclosed gas in the blood vessels of the brain, neck, and
chest. While these may be indicative of an air embolism, the findings may also be artifact from
performing such a deep dive. The death was signed out as a drowning due to an air embolism.
The breathing gas used would have had a low risk of causing a seizure but that is also a
possibility.
B.3 Proximate Cause: Cardiac
04-40 Diver with unknown certification and experience, diving on wreck and lost
consciousness at depth
Cause of Death: Cardiac Dysrhythmia
Information about the certification and experience of this 53-year-old male is unavailable. He was
diving in a river on a wreck with a group of divers. The decedent lost consciousness at depth and
an instructor quickly brought him to the surface. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Autopsy
information was not made available but this most likely represents a cardiac event. The instructor
was evaluated for a possible air embolism.
04-71 Student in OW resort class, surfaced with trouble breathing and lost consciousness
Cause of Death: Cardiac Dysrhythmia due to Coronary Atherosclerosis
This 41-year-old male was making his first lifetime dive in an open water certification class. As the
decedent was on vacation this may have been a resort course. There were a total of five divers
making a dive from a boat. One of the other students became low on air and the instructor took
him to the surface. The decedent then surfaced and was complaining of having trouble breathing.
He lost consciousness during the surface swim and could not be resuscitated. The death was
attributed to a cardiac event.
74 Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition