HM Coastguard - Diving Incidents 2006

[Sea Pea]

Originally Posted by freshwaterdiver

I take it there must be someone with stats to show whether these divers are experienced / inexperienced. What caused the problem. What agency are they from, what age are they etc.

Hmmmmmm, there are lots of stats but they are kept by different agencies and there probably isn't a single source that is comprehensive. BSAC keep excellent incident reports (on their website) other agencies require incidents to be reported, the HSE require (by law) reports of cases of DCI in 'at work' situations. But Coroners who obviously examine fatal incidents don't seem to have a central register of 'best practice' that emanates from their Courts and as far as I can see data (even depersonalised) from Hyperbaric Chambers is not nationally co-ordinated. Now if we could get all these and others working together we would have a far greater potential to understand what's happening.

One day ....!

Sea Pea

[freshwaterdiver]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I suspect we are just seeing the effects of trying to make divers more aware.
The old attitude of DCI is bad, DCI is your fault is going and so the CG get more speculative calls hence they see the more minor incidents.

Still not a happy story here Daffy and NigelH.

I just wonder about the proliferation of CCR, Nitrox and other gasses - which are purported to be safer - at least on paper.

At the end of the day, there is big money to be made by the industry if they can pursuede us all to go over to supposedly "safer gasses". I am on air.
But can appreciate the draw to Nitrox. Just hope these scary figures start going down.

I feel that air is still the simplest to learn and understand.
Could it be that a slight amount of confusion due to the more technical nature of further equipment and gas mixes required may be causing some of the problems here?

Sea Pea has a good point - I've seen the BSAC stats and they are excellent (if you know what I mean). Shame we cant get a co-ordinated set to nail this down.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 25th March 2006

Brixham Coastguard
Berry Head Coastguards and paramedics went to the assistance of an unconscious female diver who had experienced a rapid ascent from 5 meters off Breakwater Beach. The casualty was transferred to Torbay Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

[Humber Coastguard]

Friday 31st March 2006

Shetland Coastguard
A diver suffering from possible DCI symptoms was transported from the MV Karin to the hyperbaric chamber at Stromness in the Orkney Islands.

[Humber Coastguard]

Thursday 6th April 2006

Shetland Coastguard
A diver suffering from possible symptoms of DCI after an uncontrolled ascent off Bressey was transferred to hospital from the MV Alluvion. Recompression was not considered to be necessary but the diver was kept in overnight for observation.

[Sea Pea]

Originally Posted by Sea Pea

... there are lots of stats but they are kept by different agencies and there probably isn't a single source that is comprehensive.

.... Coroners who obviously examine fatal incidents don't seem to have a central register of 'best practice' that emanates from their Courts....
Sea Pea

Oh dear now I'm quoting myself - doh! But I'll also quote the Health & Safety Laboratory report "Performance of diving equipment" (2006) :-

a). "...there has been NO CONSISTENCY in the type, methods, or quality of investigations conducted after a diving incident has occurred." (Page 1)

b). "....important information for INQUESTS and enquiries , and on the performance of diving equioment, may be being missed (Page v).

My emphasis , but there it is from the HSE's own laboratory report. I think we need to know that we don't know as much as we thought we did !!!

Sleep tight!

Sea Pea

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 9th April 2006

Milford Haven Coastguard
Ambulance Control requested Coastguard assistance after a diver returned to shore at Dale requiring medical attention. It was discovered the diver had injested water prior to the dive making him feel nauseous. The casualty was taken to Withybush Hospital by ambulance. Dale Coastguard Rescue Team were in attendance.

[Humber Coastguard]

Thursday 13th April 2006

Shetland Coastguard
A female diver was transferred to the hyperbaric unit at Stromness from the dive boat Radient Queen; she had made a rapid ascent while diving in Scapa Flow. Recompression was not required.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 15th April 2006

Portland Coastguard
A Mayday call was received from the dive boat Maverick reporting a non-breathing diver on deck, 3 other divers were still in the water. Coastguard Helicopter R-WB was diverted and Weymouth's RNLI Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat were launched. The casualty was airlifted direct to Dorset County Hospital and the 3 other divers were recovered by vessels on scene. The casualty was found to be deceased on arrival at the hospital

Falmouth Coastguard
St Ives Coastguard Rescue Team, Land and Air ambulances were tasked to meet the diving RIB MCD 2 on its arrival in St Ives Harbour to transfer a diver with suspected decompression sickness to the DDRC after an uncontrolled ascent from 29 metres.

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 16th April 2006

Clyde Coastguard
A report was received from the Puffin Dive Centre that the Dive RIB Puffin 4 had a diver onboard who was unconcious and had stopped breathing. Oban Lifeboat, Oban Coast Rescue Team, an ambulance and police were tasked. The casualty was transferred to Oban Lifeboat where he was later pronounced deceased by the doctor onboard

Forth Coastguard
A 999 call was received reporting two divers in difficulty off St Abbs Lighthouse. The two divers were subsequently recovered by the local dive boat Seklie which later confirmed that they did not require any medical attention.

Brixham Coastguard
The Rescue Helicopter from RAF Chivenor airlifted a female diver to the DDRC from the dive vessel Falcon of Dart after she suffered an apparent air embolism. Plymouth Coastguard assisted at Roborough Airport and Berry Head Coastguard collected details.

Clyde Coastguard
Clyde Coastguard were informed by Lorne and the Isles Hospital that a diver was to be transffered from the hospital to the Dunstaffnage Recompression Chamber suffering from Decompression Sickness.

Forth Coastguard
The Dive vessel North Star reported a female diver suffering from headaches after a 15 meter dive. The vessel entered Eyemouth Harbour where it was met by an ambulance and Eyemouth Coastguard Rescue Team. It was discovered that she was suffering from the cold due to a tear in her suit. After examination and treatment from the ambulance crew the casualty was pronounced fit and well.

Belfast and Liverpool Coastguards
A Mayday call was intercepted by Belfast Coastguard from the dive boat Endeavour, west of Port Erin, Isle of Man, reporting that a diver onboard had stopped breathing. Liverpool Coastguard assumed co-ordination and launched Port Erin RNLI Inshore Lifeboat to assist. The casualty was pronounced dead by a doctor prior to being landed ashore at Port Erin by the Endeavour.