Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

APPENDIX B. DIVE FATALITY CASE REPORTS
04-42 Double Fatality. Inexperienced, obese diver made shore entry dive in rough seas,
thrown against rocks
Cause of Death: Drowning
This 54-year-old male received his initial open-water certification 4 years previously but had
minimal diving experience, with only eight lifetime dives. The diver was also obese. He also had
not made an open-water dive in 3 years. The decedent and two other divers made a shore entry
into rough seas in an area known for difficult diving conditions. Two of the divers in the group died
in the event. The autopsy disclosed changes consistent with drowning and blunt force injuries
from the diver being tossed against the rocks.
04-43 Double Fatality. Moderate experienced, obese diver made shore entry dive in rough
seas, thrown against rocks
Cause of Death: Drowning
This 41-year-old male received his initial open-water certification over 5 years ago and had a
moderate amount of diving experience, with twenty-eight lifetime dives. The diver was also
obese. The decedent and two other divers made a shore entry into rough seas in an area known
for difficult diving conditions. Two of the divers in the group died in the event. The autopsy
disclosed changes consistent with drowning and blunt force injuries from the diver being tossed
against the rocks.
04-55 Experienced diver with heart disease and diabetes, did drift dive in very strong
current, rapid ascent, reef hook entangled, lost consciousness after surface struggle
Cause of Death: Drowning
This 69-year-old female was an experienced, certified diver with a history of diabetes mellitus as
well as a cardiac dysrhythmia for which she took medication. She was making a drift dive in the
ocean in a very strong current. After spending 27 minutes at a maximum depth of 71 fsw (22
msw), she unexpectedly made a rapid ascent to the surface. The diver’s reef hook became
entangled in the mooring line and she struggled on the surface before losing consciousness. The
death was ruled a drowning, but air embolism cannot be excluded. Equipment evaluation
demonstrated that the inflator for her buoyancy compensator was stuck open, and she had
minimal air remaining.
04-76 Diver with intermediate diving experience made dive using nitrox, had inappropriate
equipment setup and was overweighted, buoyancy problems, lost consciousness at depth
Cause of Death: Drowning
This 45-year-old male was a certified diver with 30 lifetime dives making a dive from a boat. The
diver was using nitrox-34 and against advice from the boat crew, he strapped his weight belt on to
his tank. He also used pocket weights, with a total of 50-pounds of weight used. The dive was
made on a wall, and not surprisingly the diver experienced buoyancy problems. At first he was
between 60 and 75 fsw (23 msw), then he descended to 120 fsw (37 msw), resisting his buddy’s
attempts to provide assistance. He was pulled up from 113 fsw (34 msw) unconscious and
resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. The autopsy findings were consistent with drowning.
04-87 Diver with unknown certification and experience level, made solo night dive to
spearfish, body recovered two days later
Cause of Death: Drowning
There is little information available on the death of this 36-year-old male, including certification
status and experience level. He apparently made a night dive alone and was likely spearfishing.
84 Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition