Hay Fever & Diving.

[Devon Diver]

This concerns an incident which occured in June this year and I didn't report for a variety of reasons.
The story is compiled from my perspective and that of another diver involved. Names changed (except mine)

I was having an offgassing day and driving the RIB. I tied up to the fixed shot and dropped in three divers, each of whom had seperate tasks to carry out on the site.
The viz was so bad that the tasks could not be accomplished. Two divers reeled out from the bottom of the shot at 28m, realised they had gone the wrong way and went back to the shot where 'Dave' indicated to 'Charlie' he was out of breath. 'Charlie' left him there briefly while carrying out another task and then they ascended the shot line together. The third diver was also on the shot at this time.
The ascent was conducted without incident. 'Dave' stopped at 5m, 'Charlie' at 6m with third diver.
'Charlie' is stopping at 6 for 3 minutes and at 3m for 3 minutes, 'Dave' stops at 5m for 3 minutes. 'Charlie' leaves 6m stop notices 'Dave' has left 5m stop and thinks everything is ok.

Back on the boat I see 'Dave' surface at the time expected, make his way down the RIB. He handed me his weighhtbelt, inflated his drysuit, disconected the inflator and immediately became unresponsive and ceased breathing. In fact - he died at the side of the RIB.

The PM showed pulmonary baratrauma of both lungs with diffuse gas embolism.

The baratrauma was caused by mucus build up believed to be as a result of hay fever.

Prior to the dive he showed no sign of hay fever what-so-ever.

Something to think about perhaps.

[scuba g]

Do you know if decongestants were used beforehand? I suffer with hayfever and luckly enough once Im near the coast its not so bad or doesnt affect me at all, but Ive never had a built up of mucus over a dive that I have been aware of except a stuffy nose with traces of light blood, which my GP explained was just minor capillary damage that happens from blowing your nose with too much force (usually before the dive, I wouldnt dive if the hayfever has affected my eyes and throat). Its very sad to hear of someone passing away like that.

[andrallan]

Thank you for posting this incident report. It must have been a terrible experience.This is the kind of factual report we can learn from and so perhaps a little benefit can come from the tradgedy. Sorry for your loss.

[Aquatic Mammal]

Many thanks, a cautionary tale indeed.

For Scuba G, using a Neti Pot (available from all good yoga shops) clears all the gunk out of your nasal passages (I call my gunk "snotctopus") and removes the need for vigorous nose blowing!



Enjoy!

[Gene_Hobbs]

Astarita C, Gargano D, Di Martino P. Pollen trapped in a scuba tank: a potential hazard for allergic divers. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Jan 18;132(2):166-7. RRR ID: 10644286

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