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CASE 15<br />
then lifted him up using the hauler but, as<br />
he emerged from the water, the crewman was<br />
unable to hold his upper body upright and he<br />
fell back into the water and disappeared from<br />
view.<br />
Within 2 minutes the skipper saw the<br />
crewman floating face down off the vessel’s<br />
starboard quarter. The skipper again<br />
manoeuvred the vessel to place the crewman<br />
under the hauler on the starboard side, and<br />
managed to haul him back on board using a<br />
line attached to a grapple hook. Unfortunately,<br />
the crewman showed no signs of life and<br />
could not be revived. The cause of death was<br />
later given as cardiac arrest.<br />
The Lessons<br />
1. It is not unusual for fishing gear to<br />
become tangled and move in unexpected<br />
ways across the deck during shooting.<br />
The only way to stay safe is to separate<br />
the crew from the gear during shooting<br />
operations.<br />
2. Falling into water below 15°C can kill<br />
a healthy person in 2 minutes. The<br />
initial gasp due to the shock of the cold<br />
water on your skin may result in water<br />
entering your lungs. This is followed by<br />
hyperventilation and a dramatic increase<br />
in heart rate and blood pressure that<br />
can lead to cardiac arrest. From 2 to 15<br />
minutes your body will start shutting<br />
down and you will be unable to swim,<br />
climb a ladder or keep hold of a rope.<br />
3. It is extremely difficult to recover a man<br />
overboard casualty and it is very likely<br />
that the casualty will not be able to help<br />
themselves.<br />
• Give some thought to the equipment<br />
you may need for recovering a man<br />
overboard casualty.<br />
• Make up a life-sized dummy and<br />
practise recovery from the water<br />
regularly.<br />
4. Most man overboard accidents happen<br />
during calm seas. Always wear a lifejacket<br />
when working on the open decks. If you<br />
end up in the water it can save your life by:<br />
• Reducing the load on your heart as you<br />
won’t have to struggle to swim.<br />
• Keeping you afloat and your face clear<br />
of the water, allowing you to breathe.<br />
• Assisting those recovering you by<br />
providing them with something to<br />
grab onto.<br />
• Increasing your visibility in the water,<br />
helping your rescuers find you.<br />
• Providing additional insulation,<br />
helping to keep you warm for longer.<br />
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2017<br />
35
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