Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities - Divers Alert ...

previous day from a deep dive, but declinedany medical evaluation. The decedent enteredthe water without a buddy and rapidlydescended to 166 fsw (49.8 msw). His bodywas recovered nearly three hours later. Thediver’s tank was empty and, despite usingnitrox, his depth would place him at risk forboth nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity.The autopsy findings were consistent withdrowning, along with evidence of significantnatural disease processes, including coronaryartery disease and cirrhosis of the liver.Contributing factors/significant diagnosesincluded decompression sickness, nitrogennarcosis, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C,coronary atherosclerosis, and toxicology positivefor diphenhydramine.01-32 Unqualified diver on nitrox becameseparated from group and lost in caveCause of Death: Drowning due toinsufficient air, entrapment in caveThis 23-year-old male was an experienceddivemaster but had no formal training in cavediving. He and six other divers, none of whomhad cave diving training, made a deep cavedive using nitrox 24 or 26 percent oxygen. Thedivers went into the freshwater cave system toa maximum depth of 150 feet (45 meters). Theother six divers made it out of the cave, but thedecedent became separated from the group.His body was recovered 1,000 feet (300meters) into the cave. The autopsy findingswere consistent with drowning. With the useof nitrox at that depth, the contribution of possibleoxygen toxicity cannot be excluded.Contributing factor/significant diagnosisincluded toxicology positive for antihistamines.01-36 Inexperienced diver in rough seas ranout of air and panickedCause of Death: Drowning due toinsufficient airThis 56-year-old female had been certified forone year with 12 lifetime dives. She and herbuddy made two dives to 70 fsw (21 msw) inrough seas. During the second dive of the day,the two divers lost their orientation. The divebuddy surfaced to establish their position, andwhen he returned to depth, the decedentforcibly attempted to pull his regulator fromhis mouth. The dive buddy returned to thesurface to get assistance. The decedent wasfound unconscious on the bottom. Her tankwas empty. Both the tank and regulator werein poor condition. The autopsy findings wereconsistent with drowning. Contributing factor/significantdiagnoses included panic.01-43 Uncertified diver who planned to diveseparately from buddy became lost and ranout of airCause of Death: Drowning due toinsufficient airThis 17-year-old male had no formal divetraining or experience. He and another diverentered the water at the same time but did notdive together. The other diver used a divebuoy, but the decedent had nothing to markhis location. The decedent’s body was foundafter two days; his tank was empty. An airembolism cannot be excluded in this case.01-53 Inexperienced solo diver ran out of airwhile moving a floating dockCause of Death: Drowning due toinsufficient airThis 31-year-old male had open-water certificationbut little experience in the three yearshe had been diving. He entered the wateralone to move a floating dock in an area wherethe water averaged 3-4 feet (1-1.2 meters) indepth. The decedent’s brother waited on theDAN’s <strong>Report</strong> on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration: 2003 Edition 119