Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive

Appendix B: Fatality Case <strong>Report</strong>schest pains for a week prior to this dive. Thediver had similar complaints two months previously,and some follow-up appointmentswere scheduled but he had not been evaluatedyet. Without a buddy, the decedent made ashort dive to 12 fsw (4 msw) to check out thearea and then returned to the surface. He wascollecting lobster and returned to depth butnever surfaced. Another diver found himunconscious on the bottom. Resuscitationefforts were unsuccessful. The autopsy disclosedsevere coronary artery disease, hypertrophyof the left ventricle of the heart and evidenceof previous injury to his myocardium.Toxicology studies also revealed cocaine andethanol in his blood. Cocaine alone can resultin a fatal cardiac event, but combining cocainewith severe coronary artery disease practicallyassures it.Proximate Cause: Drowning /Insufficient Air03-15 Inexperienced diver made personaltask dive without fins, panicked on surfaceand sank to bottomCause of Death: Drowning due toInsufficient AirThis 56-year-old male had basic open-watercertification with fewer than 20 lifetime dives.He entered the water alone to check an airconditioner unit; he tied a line to himself, butdid not use fins. He made two excursions to adepth of 12 feet and appeared to panic whileattempting to remove his buoyancy compensatoron the surface. The decedent sank to thebottom where he was found still wearing aweight belt. The autopsy disclosed aorticstenosis (thickening and hardening of theleaflets of the aortic valve in the heart, preventingthe valve from opening properly), atheroscleroticcardiovascular disease and hypertrophyof the left ventricle of the heart. Themedical examiner determined the death to bedue to aortic stenosis, but the history wasmore consistent with an accidental drowning.An air embolism cannot be excluded and certainlythe natural disease processes may havecontributed to the fatality.03-17 Diver with heart problems, madespearfishing dive, separated from buddy,found dead on surface with empty tanksCause of Death: Drowning due toInsufficient AirThis 52-year-old male received his initialopen-water certification six years earlier. Hehad a medical history that was significant forheart disease and peptic ulcer disease. Thediver also complained of chest tightness priorto the dive. He and a buddy were spearfishing,but they became separated after 15 minutes.The buddy eventually returned to theboat, but the decedent was missing. He wasfound floating unconscious and with anempty tank. The cause of death was determinedto be drowning, but a cardiac event asa contributing factor cannot be excluded.03-21 Experienced diver, made three divesfor game collection, died on his fourth solodive to retrieve equipmentCause of Death: Drowning due toInsufficient AirThis 71-year-old male was a certified diverwith four years of experience. He was overweightand took medication for high bloodpressure. The diver and his buddy were usinga surface supplied diving apparatus to collectl o b s t e r. They completed three uneventfuldives. To retrieve a piece of equipment, thedecedent put on scuba gear and went off onhis own. He did not return to his buddy, andthe decedent’s body was recovered an hourlater. The cause of death was determined to bedrowning. The autopsy disclosed moderatehypertensive athero s c l e rotic card i o v a s c u l a rdisease and a benign kidney tumor. The occurrenceof a cardiac event cannot be excluded.114DAN’s <strong>Report</strong> on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration: 2004 Edition