HM Coastguard - Diving Incidents 2006

[Humber Coastguard]

Tuesday 2nd May 2006

Stornoway Coastguard
A call was received on VHF Ch16 from the dive boat Manxie reporting a diver being 25 minutes overdue from a dive. Mallaig RNLI Lifeboat, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat and Rescue Helicopter R-177 were tasked. The diver was located by Mallaig Lifeboat en-route to the search area.

[Humber Coastguard]

Saturday 6th May 2006

Brixham Coastguard
At the request of Ambulance Control, Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team assisted the ambulance service at the Mount Batten slip. A diver, who was experiencing chest pains following a dive on the wreck of the Scylla, was taken to the DDRC.

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 7th May 2006

Falmouth Coastguard
A call was received from the dive boat Atlantic Diver reporting that 2 divers were showing signs of distress after making a rapid ascent. Both divers were placed on Oxygen and medical advice was obtained from the Duty Diving Doctor. Newquay RNLI Lifeboat was tasked to transfer the casualties ashore. On arrival the casualties were assessed by parmedics and released.

[Humber Coastguard]

Tuesday 9th May 2006

Clyde Coastguard
A diver with a suspected bend at Tobermorry, Isle of mull was connected to the Duty Diving Doctor at Aberdeen by medilink call. The diver was then taken by ambulance to Craignure, Isle of Mull for transfer to Dunstaffnage Decompression Chamber by Oban Lifeboat. Oban Coastguard Rescue Team assisted the casualty ashore.

[Humber Coastguard]

Sunday 14th May 2006

Solent Coastguard
SOLENT COASTGUARD CO-ORDINATE SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR SIMULTANEOUS DIVING INCIDENTS

This afternoon Solent Coastguard have co-ordinated two simultaneous search and rescues with regards to diving incidents on the south coast.

The first incident was just after midday, seven miles south of Littlehampton, where a diver had resurfaced and was found to be unconscious; he was airlifted by Coastguard rescue helicopter to Queen Alexandra Hospital. The second incident was twenty-five minutes later when two divers were reported missing at Outer Mulberries dive site (off Pagham Harbour, east of Selsey Bill) and were due to have resurfaced at 12:10 hours. The casualties were subsequently recovered by a pleasure craft which had responded to an emergency broadcast put out by Solent Coastguard. The casualties were taken ashore by the Selsey RNLI lifeboat crew, where they then received medical attention.

Mike OSullivan, Watch Manager, Solent Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, says:

The diving incidents that we have assisted with today have all followed best practise and we would like to pass on our sympathy to the family and friends of the diver who we believe to have experienced a cardiac arrest whilst diving south of Littlehampton.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind the divers of best practise before setting out:

1. Be physically and medically fit, and have in date medical certification.
2. Practise all procedures, including emergencies in shallow water.
3. Have equipment regularly serviced as recommended by manufactures and check equipment in shallow water before full dive.
4. Carry surface location aids.
5. Insure your equipment against loss of theft.
6. Boat and engine(s) should be regularly serviced.
7. Boat engines to have propeller guards
8. Boat checks to include correct kit on board.
9. Ensure VHF radio is in good working order.
10. Oxygen bottles are full.


Most importantly is to know how to contact the COASTGUARD, and be prepared for helicopter evacuation.

[Humber Coastguard]

Tuesday 16th May 2006

Humber Coastguard
RAF Rescue Helicopter R-131 airlifted a diver to the Hull Hyperbaric Unit from the dive boat Sovereign III, 5.5 miles from Newton Point in Northumberland. The diver had made a rapid ascent following a dive to 55 metres.

[Humber Coastguard]

Monday 22nd May 2006

Clyde Coastguard
Cumbrae Coastguard Rescue Team assisted in transferring an NHS patient to the Millport Recompression Chamber. The casualty was displaying symptoms of decompression sickness following a rapid ascent from a dive the previous day.

[resting rifleman]

appx 9 miles south of kimmeridge in portland coastguard area.
here's hoping for a successfull outcome.

[resting rifleman]

happily the missing divers were spotted appx 4miles down tide from where they were lost, by a yacht heading for the search area and safely recovered
big up to all who took part

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by resting rifleman

happily the missing divers were spotted appx 4miles down tide from where they were lost by a yacht heading for the search area and safely recovered
big up to all who took part

Good to hear Mike.